No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act
No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act would withhold certain federal funds from states or localities that have sanctuary policies. Under the bill, a “sanctuary jurisdiction” is a state or subdivision that (a) prohibits or restricts sharing information about the citizenship or immigration status of individuals, or (b) refuses to comply with certain federal detainer requests from Homeland Security. There is a narrow exception for policies that simply do not share information or comply with detainer requests when the person involved is a crime victim or witness. If a jurisdiction is deemed sanctuary, it becomes ineligible to receive any federal funds that the jurisdiction intends to use for the benefit of people who are in the United States without lawful status. This includes funds used for food, shelter, healthcare, legal services, and transportation for undocumented immigrants. The ineligibility takes effect 60 days after enactment or, if earlier, on the first day of the next fiscal year. The bill also requires the Department of Homeland Security to report annually on jurisdictions that failed to comply with relevant detainer requests.
Key Points
- 1Definition of sanctuary jurisdiction: A state or local government policy that (1) restricts sharing information about someone’s citizenship/immigration status or (2) refuses to comply with DHS detainer requests. There is an exception for policies related to victims or witnesses to criminal offenses, where not sharing information or not complying with detainers would not by itself make a jurisdiction a sanctuary.
- 2Withholding of federal funds: Sanctuary jurisdictions would be ineligible to receive any federal funds intended to benefit undocumented immigrants, including programs that provide food, housing, healthcare, legal services, or transportation to those without lawful status.
- 3Effective date: The ineligibility would begin the earlier of 60 days after enactment or the first day of the fiscal year that begins after enactment.
- 4Reporting requirement: DHS must provide an annual report to Congress identifying states or subdivisions that failed to comply with detainer-related requests in the prior year.
- 5Short title: The act is titled the “No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act.”