Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I support H.R. 3009, the Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act, and commend Representative Hunter for introducing this legislation. It helps to address one of the main factors contributing to the collapse of immigration enforcement in the United States, ``sanctuary cities'' that prohibit their law enforcement officers from sharing information with Federal immigration authorities to enable the removal of unlawful and criminal aliens. Nearly 20 years ago, Congress realized that sanctuary cities were impeding the Federal Government from enforcing our immigration laws and jeopardizing the safety of our residents, immigrant and native-born alike. Legislation cowritten by former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Lamar Smith, prohibited States and localities from becoming sanctuaries for unlawful aliens. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 ensures that jurisdictions cannot prohibit or restrict government officials from sending to or receiving from Federal immigration authorities information regarding the immigration status of any person. Unfortunately, despite the proliferation of sanctuary jurisdictions, the Justice Department has never initiated a prosecution for violation of the 1996 act. If the administration won't act, Congress must, and that is what Mr. Hunter's bill does. It withholds key Federal law enforcement grants from sanctuary jurisdictions that violate the 1996 act.…”