The House Judiciary Committee has approved the Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act, legislation introduced by Congressman Tom McClintock. The bill aims to reinforce federal authority over immigration enforcement by limiting the ability of “sanctuary” jurisdictions to prevent local law enforcement from working with federal agencies.
Under the proposed law, local jurisdictions in states with sanctuary policies would be permitted to cooperate directly with federal law enforcement. The bill also seeks to protect local officers from legal actions initiated by sanctuary jurisdictions and reallocates certain federal funds away from those areas that do not comply with federal immigration efforts. Additionally, it would grant victims of crimes committed by individuals released due to sanctuary policies the right to seek damages.
“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.”
Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan commented, “Democrat-run sanctuary jurisdictions protect criminal illegal aliens and threaten public safety. Rep. McClintock’s Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act is commonsense legislation that will rein in sanctuary policies across the country and help keep Americans safe.”
Following its passage in committee, the legislation will advance for consideration on the House floor.
Tom McClintock has served as a member of Congress representing California’s 5th district since 2009, succeeding John Doolittle. Before his time in Congress, he was a member of both the California State Assembly and Senate. McClintock was born in White Plains, New York in 1956 and currently resides in Elk Grove. He graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree.
