Politics

EXCLUSIVE: Ted Cruz, Senate Republicans Introduce Legislation To Defund Sanctuary Cities

Photographer: Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Henry Rodgers Chief National Correspondent
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Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and a group of GOP Senators reintroduced legislation Thursday that would defund sanctuary cities and allow local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

The Daily Caller first obtained a copy of the bill, which is titled the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act. The legislation would specifically pull taxpayer-funded grants to sanctuary cities.

“So-called ‘sanctuary cities’ refuse to enforce the laws on the books and release violent criminals in our country illegally —including rapists and murders — who go on to prey on both American citizens and the immigrant community. Moreover, many of these sanctuary jurisdictions actively prevent state and local law enforcement from coordinating with their federal counterparts. They release murderers, rapists and burglars who end up preying on the community. That is wrong,” Cruz told the Caller before introducing the bill.

READ THE BILL HERE: 

(DAILY CALLER OBTAINED) — … by Henry Rodgers

“The American people, and Texas communities in particular, are tired of seeing our laws flouted and the crime that often accompanies illegal immigration. These jurisdictions need to be held accountable, and I will do everything I can to enforce our immigration laws,” Cruz added. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Ted Cruz To Introduce Constitutional Amendment To Lock Supreme Court At Nine Justices)

The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Cornyn (R-Texas), Capito (R-W.Va.), Grassley (R-Iowa), Tillis (R-N.C.), Braun (R-Ind.), Johnson (R-Wis.), Ricketts (R-Neb.), Rounds (R-S.D.), Ernst (R-Iowa), Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Hoeven (R-N.D.), Tuberville (R-Ala.), Boozman (R-Ark.), and Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.). The bill was previously filed by former Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Ted Cruz, GOP Colleagues Call For National Archives To Explain Why Pro-Life Students Were Kicked Out)

This bill previously received bipartisan support. In 2018, a bipartisan majority of senators voted in support of the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act, but it did not receive the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.