Attorney General Jeff Sessions is providing four major ‘sanctuary’ cities and a county one “last chance” to comply with federal immigration law, or risk losing federal grant money.
The Department of Justice issued a statement saying it was the “last chance for cities” to demonstrate compliance with 8 U.S.C. 1373.
That section, part of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton, dictates that jurisdictions “may not prohibit, or in any way restrict, any government entity or official from … information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual.”
The cities being given the ultimatum – comply or have your eligibility to receive federal grants reviewed – include New York, Chicago, New Orleans, and Philadelphia, along with Cook County in Illinois.
Jeff Sessions is back: Issues ‘last chance’ warning to sanctuary cities https://t.co/7nNVJbQ8Zn via the @FoxNews Android app
— John Sleitweiler (@johnsleitweiler) October 12, 2017
In March of 2017, the Justice Department shamed 118 ‘sanctuary’ jurisdictions that refused to cooperate with the federal government regarding criminal illegal immigrants. The above listed areas were on that list, and appear to be the main holdouts on complying with the law.
The Department listed infractions in which these entities refused to honor detainers to hold illegal immigrants with criminal records.
Some of the detainers that were refused by sanctuary cities involve individuals who are accused of very serious crimes, including arson, violent assaults, or in the case of Philadelphia, even homicide!
These jurisdictions have until October 27th to provide “additional evidence” that they are in compliance with 8 U.S.C. 1373 or face the possibility of losing federal law enforcement grants.
“Jurisdictions that adopt so-called ‘sanctuary policies’ also adopt the view that the protection of criminal aliens is more important than the protection of law-abiding citizens and of the rule of law,” Sessions said in a statement accompanying the ultimatum.
Sessions: Sanctuary cities including New York could be breaking law https://t.co/YU3Yud68R8 via @MailOnline
— DanRiehl (@DanRiehl) October 13, 2017
“I urge all jurisdictions found to be out of compliance in this preliminary review to reconsider their policies that undermine the safety of their residents,” he added.
It seems like a reasonable proposal to protect law-abiding citizens and residents.
Do you support the Trump Administration’s efforts to strip federal grant money from ‘sanctuary cities?’ Tell us your thoughts below!
