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Joyce Cosponsors Legislation To Withhold Federal Funding From Sanctuary Cities

October 6, 2020

Congressman John Joyce (PA-13) today cosponsored H.R. 516, the Ending Sanctuary Cities Act. The measure seeks to curb sanctuary cities and counties by making them ineligible to receive federal grants. "Sanctuary cities" are defined as jurisdictions that have policies in place designed to limit cooperation with, or involvement in, federal immigration enforcement actions.

Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wisc) introduced the legislation on January 11th.

"Given the current humanitarian and security crisis we face at the southern border, providing federal law enforcement officers with all of the assistance they need to implement our immigration laws and keep our citizens safe is of the utmost importance," Joyce said of the legislation. "When city and county governments blatantly refuse to cooperate with federal immigration regulations, they are not only disregarding the rule of law, they are inviting unnecessary risks on their constituents. This bill will hold sanctuary cities accountable and be a deterrent for the jurisdictions that are thinking of pursuing these dangerous policies."

Pennsylvania has multiple cities with sanctuary policies, the most notable of which is Philadelphia. In 2014, Honduran Juan Ramon Vasquez was in the U.S. illegally when he was charged with a felony. The City of Philadelphia then ignored a request by ICE to keep Vazquez detained and he went on to sexually assault a five year old girl.

"An assault on just one innocent child, like the case that occurred in Philadelphia, is one preventable crime too many," continued Joyce. "It's time to pass this legislation and get it to President Trump's desk."

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