Larsen: GOP "Sanctuary City' Bill Hurts Community Safety

Press Release

Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, released the following statement today about his vote against the Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act (H. R. 3009).

House Republicans rushed the bill for a vote following the death earlier this month of Kathryn Steinle, who was shot allegedly by a man who U.S. authorities had deported five times.

The Act takes away federal grant money from public safety efforts in sanctuary cities, where local law enforcement agencies have flexibility in their decisions about reporting immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally. The negatively affected grant programs are the Community-Oriented Policing Services program (COPS), the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (Byrne-JAG) and the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP).

"The death of Ms. Steinle warrants a serious debate in Congress about how to help prevent similar tragedies in the future. Unfortunately House Republicans rushed this bill to the floor with little debate and no hearing, which seems wholly disconnected from the gravity of the circumstances. I voted against this bill because it hurts community safety.

"Cutting off critical support for community policing is not a solution to tragedies like this one. I have long supported all three of the grant programs that help local law enforcement keep their communities safe. The COPS program improves community policing and has helped cities and counties in my district buy new equipment and hire more officers. Byrne-JAG grants support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and improve the criminal justice system. And SCAAP reimburses states when they jail criminals who are undocumented immigrants.

"Limiting access to these programs is detrimental to the ability of local law enforcement agencies to carry out their jobs and keep communities safe," Larsen said.

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