Samuel Case, FISM News

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Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is looking to strip sanctuary cities of federal grant money.

Cruz and a group of other Republican Senators reintroduced the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act on Thursday, which will pull funding from cities that protect illegal immigrants from deportation. 

“So-called ‘sanctuary cities’ refuse to enforce the laws on the books and release violent criminals in our country illegally —including rapists and [murderers] — who go on to prey on both American citizens and the immigrant community,” Cruz told the Daily Caller. 

“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,” he continued. 

Beyond defunding sanctuary cities, the bill also contains a provision enabling local law enforcement to work with federal immigration officials. 

“This bill would not only ensure that law enforcement officers can cooperate with federal immigration officers, but it would see to it that cities are not rewarded with taxpayer-funded grants for flouting our laws,” bill co-sponsor Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) said.

The bill received bipartisan support in 2018 but failed to gain 60 votes to overcome a filibuster in the Senate. 

The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) This bill was previously filed by former Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).