Washington, D.C. – The House Judiciary Committee passed Congressman Tom McClintock’s H.R. 7640, the Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act
The bill asserts federal supremacy over enforcement of immigration law by pre-empting so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions from interfering with local enforcement of immigration law. It allows local jurisdictions in “sanctuary” states to work directly with federal law enforcement agencies to uphold immigration laws, protects local law enforcement officers from being sued or harassed by “sanctuary” jurisdictions, and re-directs federal law enforcement funds from “sanctuary” jurisdictions to those cooperating with federal agencies. It also gives victims of criminals released by “sanctuary” jurisdictions the right to sue for damages caused by those releases.
“All of the local sheriffs in my district want desperately to cooperate with ICE to enforce our immigration laws, but the State of California forbids them from doing so,” said Rep. McClintock. “My bill will allow them to work directly with the federal government to keep their counties safe and to receive the funds that would otherwise go to “sanctuary” jurisdictions.