Luján Statement on Proposed "Crackdown' on Sanctuary Cities

Statement

Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) today issued the following statement after Attorney General Jeff Sessions threatened to withhold as much as $4.1 billion in federal grants from sanctuary cities where local law enforcement limits their cooperation with federal authorities on immigration enforcement:

"I believe the recent announcements by Attorney General Sessions that the Trump Administration plans to withhold billions in federal grants from sanctuary cities constitute an overreach by the Administration. Their position ignores the right to self-governance and self-determination granted to states and local governments under the 10th Amendment.

It also ignores the realities on the ground. Local law enforcement officials should have the resources they need to protect and serve all the residents in their care. The Administration's threats to withhold funds from first responders and the communities they serve will not improve conditions, but it will make undocumented residents who are victims of heinous crimes like rape or abuse less likely to report those incidents -- and it will needlessly punish communities that are doing their best to address local problems at the local level."

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