Lamar Smith: “First of all, let me thank the gentleman from Georgia, a member of the Rules Committee, for yielding me time. Mr.…”

“First of all, let me thank the gentleman from Georgia, a member of the Rules Committee, for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the underlying bill, H.R. 3003, No Sanctuary for Criminals Act; and I thank the chairman, Bob Goodlatte, and Representatives Steve King and Andy Biggs for introducing it. This legislation keeps dangerous criminal immigrants off our streets and out of our neighborhoods, and it holds sanctuary cities accountable for breaking Federal immigration laws. I have a special interest in this legislation because it enforces a bill I sponsored in 1969, which was enacted into law and made sanctuary cities illegal. The American people sent a clear message to Congress last November when they elected a President who promised to enforce our immigration laws. A recent poll shows that 80 percent--80 percent--of voters want cities that arrest illegal immigrants for crimes to be required to turn them over to immigration authorities. Eighty percent. That is a Harvard-Harris poll. The No Sanctuary for Criminals Act is a down payment on our pledge to protect innocent Americans from criminal immigrants who deserve to be jailed or sent back to their home countries. We need to enact this legislation. There is simply no excuse for local governments to ignore immigration laws at the expense of American's safety and well-being. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr.…”