Texas Republican Rep. Brian Babin told Breitbart News on Monday he is very happy with Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ announcement that the Department of Justice will no longer send federal law enforcement funds to so-called “sanctuary cites.”
“I commend the attorney general for following through on the President’s promise to defund sanctuary cities and restore the rule of law,” said Babin, who has been in the congressional vanguard going after sanctuary cities. Sanctuary cities are municipalities that do not cooperate fully with federal law enforcement in regards to illegal aliens.
Many of these sanctuary cities refuse to report crimes committed by illegal aliens to the federal government.
Sessions said, “Today I am urging all states and local jurisdictions to comply with all federal laws, including 8 U.S.C. Section 1373. Moreover, the Department of Justice will require jurisdictions seeking or applying for Department grants to certify compliance with Section 1373 as a condition for receiving these awards.”
The attorney general said 80 percent of Americans support cracking down on sanctuary cities:
Not only do these policies endanger the lives of every American; just last May, the Department of Justice Inspector General found that these policies also violate federal law. The President has rightly said that this disregard for the law must end. In his executive order, he stated that it is the policy of the executive branch to ensure that states and cities comply with all federal laws, including our immigration laws.
Babin told Breitbart News taxpayers deserve better.
“Taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize sanctuary cities when they choose to ignore federal immigration agencies,” he said. “There must be consequences when cities and localities purposely ignore the law and release convicted criminal aliens back onto the streets.”
“The American people are fed up with these reckless and dangerous policies that are literally getting Americans killed,” the congressman said.
“I am glad we now have a President and an Attorney General who are upholding the law and putting the safety of American citizens first,” he said.
Babin voted July 23, 2015 to withold federal funds from sanctuary cities after Kathryn Steinle was shot and killed by an illegal alien in San Francisco.
After that vote he said, “This vote sends a clear message that these irresponsible and dangerous policies will not be tolerated. While this is an important first step, more must be done to restore the rule of law and ensure the safety and security of the American people from illegal criminal aliens.”
Watch Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX) on the House floor discussing sanctuary cites: