[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 10, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H1581-H1585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1630
         SUPPORTING JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF SANCTUARY CITIES ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Tlaib). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 3, 2019, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Budd) 
is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I would ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks, to include extraneous materials on the topic of this Special 
Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I am joined by my colleagues today to 
discuss how sanctuary city policies threaten the safety of American 
citizens.
  Before I dive in, I want to commend the Trump administration for its 
crack-down on sanctuary cities, and I applaud the recent Second Circuit 
Court of Appeals' decision allowing the Department of Justice to 
withhold funding from sanctuary cities.
  Now, back in June, Immigration and Customs Enforcement released a 
list of criminal illegal aliens that were allowed back into their 
sanctuary communities by local officials. One such criminal is Rosalio 
Ramos-Ramos, he is a Honduran citizen who was deported four times 
before authorities arrested him in Washington State in October of 2017.
  Once notified of Rosalio's arrest, ICE issued a written detainer 
request, asking the local authorities to imprison him for an additional 
48 hours so that they could decide whether or not to begin deportation 
proceedings.
  Instead, local authorities ignored the detainer request and released 
Rosalio back into the community. In January of 2018, he murdered his 
cousin, and then he hid the body in a dumpster.
  In another instance, in 2015, Garcia Zarate, an illegal immigrant 
from Mexico shot and killed 32-year-old Kate Steinle, a very well-known 
case, and a tragedy, while she was walking with her father and her 
friend on Pier 14 in San Francisco.
  Prior to the shooting, Garcia Zarate had been deported five times, 
and was supposed to be deported for a sixth time. He had been 
transferred to San Francisco's jail to serve a sentence for selling 
marijuana, but local authorities released him a few days later, despite 
a detainer request from Federal law enforcement.
  Situations like these are more common than they should be in our 
country, and many local officials protect illegal immigrants and ignore 
Federal immigration laws up to the point of leaving dangerous 
individuals in their communities.
  As you can see from these horrific examples, refusing to honor 
detainer requests and frustrating local law enforcement has dire 
consequences. Not only does it make our Nation less safe, it leaves no 
room for the victims of these offenders to obtain justice.
  That is why I introduced the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities 
Act, along with my colleague, Representative Bradley Byrne, here in the 
House, and my fellow North Carolinian, Thom Tillis, over in the Senate.
  This legislation would allow anyone who is a victim of murder, rape, 
or any felony, to file a lawsuit and bring civil action against the 
State or the sanctuary city if that city failed to honor a lawful 
immigration detainer request from the Department of Homeland Security. 
Any individual who is injured or harmed by an illegal immigrant, who 
benefited from a sanctuary city's policy, will be able to sue the 
sanctuary city or State.
  My bill also requires sanctuary cities to waive a criminal's immunity 
as a condition of receiving certain Federal grants. If the jurisdiction 
doesn't agree to waive immunity, it will not be eligible for grants for 
public works, grant planning, and administrative expenses, and grants 
for training, research, and technical assistance.
  I am extremely proud that President Trump endorsed our bill during 
his 2020 State of the Union address. It is time for Congress to force 
sanctuary cities to comply with Federal law enforcement, and to stop 
them from letting dangerous criminals remain on our streets. It is 
finally time to give victims of sanctuary city policies a legal pathway 
to justice.
  During my trip to the southern border last year, I witnessed the 
humanitarian and security crisis up close and personal. I saw the sorry 
state of some areas of our border. I saw places that were only defended 
by thin, barbed-wire fences. These weak defenses allow practically 
anyone to break into our country, and that includes dangerous members 
of drug cartels who fuel our country's devastating opioid crisis.
  I will continue to support policies that crack down on sanctuary 
cities across the United States.
  Madam Speaker, with that, I yield to the gentleman from South 
Carolina (Mr. Norman), my dear friend, someone who has been a staunch 
advocate for securing our border.
  Mr. NORMAN. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Budd, and I appreciate 
this bill.
  I rise in strong support of the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary 
Cities Act. It is high time the United States Congress address the 
dangers of sanctuary city policies.
  I think it comes at a very important time, as we are suffering or 
could suffer from a pandemic that we are facing. To have open borders 
and let anybody in doesn't make sense now, nor does it make sense in 
the future. I commend my colleagues, Representatives Ted Budd and 
Bradley Byrne, for their leadership in holding sanctuary cities 
accountable to the law.
  Make no mistake, sanctuary cities kill by offering safe havens to 
some of the most violent and reckless criminals residing in this 
country. Sanctuary cities put American lives at risk every single day.
  Only a few months ago, an illegal alien, Nemias Perez-Severiano 
killed a 67-year-old Vietnam war veteran, U.S. Marine, Samuel W. 
Jackson, inside a sanctuary county in Pennsylvania.
  Jackson risked his life to defend a country that now refuses to 
protect his life. Counties like Montgomery in Pennsylvania are an 
insult to patriots like Jackson.
  My district has no sanctuary cities, but that does not guarantee our 
safety. In Lancaster, South Carolina, just a few miles from where I 
live, Charlie Byrdic, an innocent and law-abiding citizen, was killed 
by an illegal immigrant who had hidden from authorities for years. 
Without the cooperation of sanctuary cities with law enforcement 
agencies, more families will lose their loved ones because criminals 
are allowed to roam our Nation without consequences. That is why we 
need this legislation.
  This bill will offer a measure of justice to the victims of those 
violent crimes by allowing victims and their families to sue the cities 
that house these assailants.
  Enough is enough. No American should lose his or her life, liberty, 
or property, because the government refuses to act against known 
criminals, immigrants or not.
  The choice is ours; do we want to be the kind of country that 
protects the victims of crime or the perpetrators of crime? I know 
where I stand. It is time to fight against this thing that is plaguing 
our country of opening up our borders to anyone.
  Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Norman.
  Madam Speaker, at this point, I would yield to the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Byrne), a friend and colleague who led the effort with me 
to introduce the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act.

[[Page H1582]]

  Like all of us here tonight, he is tired of hearing stories about 
illegal immigrants in sanctuary cities committing horrific crimes 
against American citizens. I want to thank him for spearheading the 
effort against this dangerous sanctuary city policy.
  Mr. BYRNE. Madam Speaker, when our Founding Fathers began this great 
experiment called the United States of America, they did so with the 
fresh but unpleasant memories of a tyrannical and repressive monarchy. 
They set out to create a new system of government that served American 
citizens, while ensuring their rights and liberties and protecting the 
powers of the individual States.
  To protect this system of Federalism, certain powers were required to 
be vested with the Federal Government. In our Constitution, our 
Founders gave, or enumerated in their language, specific powers to our 
Federal Government necessary to provide for a common defense, establish 
the rules for naturalizing new citizens, and ensure the integrity of 
our international borders. Controlling immigration into our country is 
essential for the rule of law. The integrity of our system requires a 
cooperation, though sometimes a tense one, between the Federal and 
lower governments.
  Sadly, a growing movement across many cities and jurisdictions has 
undermined our constitutional order and the rule of law which protects 
it. The result of these dangerous and misguided policies is so-called 
sanctuary cities.
  These sanctuary cities do not cooperate, and even undermine, Federal 
law enforcement from apprehending criminal aliens. The irony is that 
sanctuary cities become more unsafe and inhospitable to law-abiding 
Americans, those my colleagues and I have sworn a duty to protect.
  These reckless policies are a danger not just to people in sanctuary 
cities but beyond. When dangerous criminals are allowed quarter in one 
location, it is only a matter of time before they move to another 
location to continue their criminal activity. Sadly, many American 
citizens have been victimized, even murdered.
  That is why last year Congressman Budd and I introduced the Justice 
for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act. Our bill will provide for 
individuals to sue sanctuary cities and jurisdictions if they are 
harmed in a violent crime committed by an illegal immigrant. If 
jurisdictions refuse to be sued, they will lose out on Federal grant 
money.
  As President Trump said about our bill, it will ``give American 
victims the right to sue sanctuary cities and hold them accountable for 
the thousands of lives they have shattered.'' This will disincentivize 
sanctuary policies that fuel even more illegal immigration and harm the 
safety and security of Americans.
  I have been to our southern border. I have spoken directly with ICE, 
CBP, and other law enforcement agents there, the crisis is real.
  We have thousands of miles of border and coastline. Border security 
cannot stop at the border. Those who manage to sneak in, especially 
those with criminal histories, cannot be given a free pass once they 
make it across. Sanctuary cities that undermine our laws must be held 
accountable.
  Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues for joining with me today to 
speak out on this problem and call for action on the Justice for 
Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act.
  Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Byrne for his friendship and 
leadership on this.
  Madam Speaker, at this point, I would like to yield to the gentleman 
from North Carolina (Mr. Bishop).
  I want to thank him for his leadership on the Immigration Detainer 
Enforcement Act. This bill makes it easier for local law enforcement to 
comply with lawful detainer requests from the Department of Homeland 
Security.
  I also want to thank him for his steadfast leadership on the 
Committee for Homeland Security.
  Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and 
fellow North Carolinian, Mr. Budd.
  From San Francisco to my district in Mecklenburg County, North 
Carolina, cities across the country are declaring themselves sanctuary 
cities. The term sounds peaceful, but the results are exactly the 
opposite.
  For example, North Carolina sheriffs in a few urban counties released 
over 500 illegal aliens last year, who were convicted or accused of 
serious crimes, including domestic violence, indecency with a child, 
even rape, and murder.
  Rather than hand over these vicious criminals to the Federal 
authorities, sanctuary cities and counties release them into your 
community to prey on you and your family.
  What is the purpose of this policy? Clearly, it is not public safety. 
Nor is it for the protection of immigrant communities; indeed, they are 
the most victimized by these predators. Rather, it is meant to serve a 
national liberal agenda that prizes open borders over community safety.
  Across the Nation, we were horrified to learn last year about a 92-
year-old woman brutally raped and murdered at the hands of an 
individual who should have never been released--whom ICE asked to hold.
  So, the increasing breakdown in the relationship between Federal and 
local authorities isn't just theoretically dangerous.
  Further, sanctuary policies put dedicated law enforcement officers at 
risk. When criminals are released, despite an ICE detainer, ICE has a 
statutory responsibility to collect them. Rather than have a secure 
transfer, ICE must go into the community to track down the individual 
for an uncontrolled arrest.
  Ironically, if the situation turns violent, the very local police who 
arrested the alien the first time will be there to back up ICE.
  To hold these jurisdictions to account, I was proud to sign on to the 
Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act, which would allow victims 
of crimes committed by individuals released under sanctuary city 
policies, or their survivors, to sue sanctuary jurisdictions.
  For example, in the New York City case, the woman's family would be 
able to sue the local government for allowing the release of her 
killer, who should have been safely in ICE custody.
  Often, cities and towns claim immunity from being sued like this, 
denying victims' rights. This bill would allow communities to maintain 
that practice, but not at the expense of American taxpayers.
  I have heard across the aisle that sanctuary cities only release 
individuals who pose no community harm. If you believe that, you should 
have no issue with this bill because those who are released won't 
endanger the community, and no one would ever be enabled to sue.
  I, however, believe we must take this threat seriously and impose 
concrete costs to communities who refuse to follow the law.
  I am proud to support this bill introduced by my friend, Congressman 
Budd, and urge my colleagues to do the same.

                              {time}  1645

  Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Babin). I thank Mr. Babin for his leadership as co-chair of the House 
Border Security Caucus and for fighting to make America safe.
  Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Budd for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Justice for Victims of 
Sanctuary Cities Act introduced by my good friend from North Carolina, 
Representative Ted Budd.
  Since we are supposed to be a Nation of laws, this is a bill that 
really should not have even needed to have been written. But sadly, 
because of the recklessness and lunacy of sanctuary cities, States, and 
jurisdictions run by rogue local officials, we have to fight tooth and 
nail just to enforce our laws and to put the safety of our citizens 
first.
  The Democrats baselessly like to shout that the President is not 
above the law, yet they praise sanctuary jurisdictions for doing 
exactly what they claim to fight against. Apparently, being in direct 
opposition to the rule of law is okay as long as you are doing it under 
the name of sanctuary.
  Earlier this year, we witnessed a violent attack on a 92-year-old 
woman named Maria Fuertes, who was sexually assaulted and left to die 
on the sidewalk of New York. This woman's life was taken by a 21-year-
old illegal criminal alien who ICE had issued a detainer for months 
earlier, an individual who had already been arrested for assaulting his 
father and for criminal

[[Page H1583]]

possession of a weapon. This is who New York chose to protect under its 
sanctuary policies rather than Maria Fuertes.
  The worst part is that this tragedy could have been prevented. It is 
quite simple: If Governor Cuomo had allowed this monster to be 
deported, he wouldn't have been able to do this to Mrs. Fuertes.
  Frighteningly, this is not an isolated incident. This is happening 
every single day across America, and nobody is being held accountable 
for it. These policies not only pose a great risk to the safety and 
wellbeing of Americans but also to the sovereignty of our great Nation.
  Do my colleagues on the left not care that the drug cartels control 
those who illegally cross our borders and that they are abusing our 
laws for profit?
  Do they not care that these same cartels are allowing women and 
children to be violated and abused on their journey up to the United 
States?
  Do they not care that thousands of Americans have been assaulted, 
injured, raped, or--worse--killed by illegal aliens, all being 
preventable crimes?
  Facts are stubborn things, as President Reagan used to say. 
Unfortunately, Washington Democrats don't seem to care about the facts. 
They are happy to trade them for political advantage through emotion--
in violation of our Nation's laws.
  I stand with President Trump and my colleagues here today in the 
effort to end these criminal hotbeds.
  At the end of the day, this isn't about statistics; it is about 
people. It is time that we stood up for the American people who have 
suffered at the hands of those who shouldn't even be here in the first 
place.
  Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Allen). I appreciate his steadfast leadership on highlighting the 
danger that sanctuary cities pose to cities across America.
  Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I thank 
Congressman Ted Budd for calling this Special Order and for introducing 
the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act.
  One of my top priorities is to secure our border and restore the rule 
of law in our immigration system. We are one of the most blessed 
nations on the face of the Earth, and we have one of the best and most 
generous legal immigration systems out there.
  We allow more than a million people to come through the system 
legally each year. On top of that, we have almost a million students 
here on student visas, studying in our colleges and universities.
  We are a Nation of laws, and just as every American citizen is held 
accountable under the law for the crimes they commit, so should every 
alien who comes across that border illegally. That is why I am proud to 
be a cosponsor of the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act.
  This bill holds illegal aliens in sanctuary cities accountable for 
the heinous crimes they commit on American soil. Specifically, this 
bill allows victims to sue the sanctuary city where the crime took 
place.
  It is alarming that we shield illegal aliens from the consequences of 
violating Federal law, yet an American citizen who commits a crime is 
held accountable under the law. This must end, and we must give the 
victims of these horrific crimes the justice they deserve.
  To further end the harmful practices of sanctuary cities, I am also a 
proud cosponsor of the Ending Sanctuary Cities Act. This bill prohibits 
Federal grant funding to any city or county that violates Federal 
immigration law.
  I am proud to support two critical bills that take steps toward 
preventing future violent and unprovoked crimes by illegal immigrants.
  I thank President Trump for his leadership in fighting against the 
cruelty of sanctuary cities by stating his support for the Justice for 
Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act during his State of the Union Address.
  This should not be a partisan issue, as no one is above the law.
  I stand with my colleagues and President Trump. We must fix our 
broken immigration system, continue building the wall, and strengthen 
our immigration laws for the safety and security of the American 
people.
  I will continue fighting against sanctuary cities and their abuse of 
our great Nation.
  Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Williams), a great capitalist and a great baseball coach.
  Mr. WILLIAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

  The greatest commitment I make to my constituents in Texas' 25th 
District is to keep them and their families safe. Unfortunately, some 
State and local governments are choosing to put politics over public 
safety by passing sanctuary immigration laws that prevent local law 
enforcement from cooperating with Federal immigration officers.
  Sanctuary laws not only release dangerous criminals back onto our 
streets, but they also are a slap in the face to the millions of 
immigrants who went through the legal process to enter the United 
States and comply with our laws.
  I believe that individuals who enter our country illegally should 
never be afforded the same privileges as law-abiding Texans.
  I support President Trump's decisive and necessary actions to 
withhold Federal grants from sanctuary jurisdictions that proactively 
make immigration officers' jobs more challenging by refusing to follow 
the law.
  Congress must take additional action to follow in the footsteps of 
the Trump administration. For that reason, today, I am proud to speak 
in support of the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act.
  This important bill holds State and local governments accountable if 
they choose to put the public at risk by not following immigration 
laws. It allows for the victims to sue sanctuary jurisdictions if a 
crime was committed by an individual who was released back into the 
public instead of being turned over to Federal immigration enforcement 
officers.
  A report by the Texas Department of Public Safety found that 214,000 
illegal aliens were charged with over 340,000 crimes between 2011 and 
February 2020. Many were serious offenses that put the public at risk. 
There were over 600 homicides, 37,000 assaults, and 3,400 weapons 
charges, just to name a few.
  The victims of these crimes deserve to have an avenue to fight back 
against sanctuary policies. This bill would force State and local 
governments to choose whether they will change their dangerous policies 
and get in line with Federal immigration laws or risk being sued when 
there is a serious crime committed by an illegal immigrant.
  The Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act is the first step to 
holding rogue State and local governments accountable for exploiting 
our broken immigration system.
  I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put the safety of 
their constituents first by supporting our efforts to get this bill 
across the finish line.
  In God we trust.
  Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. 
Watkins). I appreciate his support on this bill.
  Mr. WATKINS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and 
also for his leadership.
  I rise today in support of the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary 
Cities Act.
  In June of last year, ICE released a list of criminal illegal aliens 
that were allowed back into their sanctuary communities by local 
officials. One was deported four times before being arrested.
  How common is it for a criminal illegal alien released by the 
sanctuary jurisdiction to go on and commit further crimes? It is 40 to 
80 percent.
  This is so wrong. We are a people of laws. This is unacceptable.
  My own district, the community of Lawrence, Kansas, is considering 
adopting a sanctuary city policy.
  Quite simply, these policies put our communities at risk. The Justice 
for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act would help victims of murder, rape, 
and all other sorts of felonies.
  I stand with those victims. I stand with the President. I stand with 
my colleagues. I stand for all law-abiding citizens. And I stand for 
justice.
  Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Steube). I thank the gentleman for his history of being a strong 
proponent of Federal immigration enforcement at

[[Page H1584]]

the State level and for his time in the Florida Legislature, and I 
appreciate his support here, as well.
  Mr. STEUBE. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Budd for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I am honored to have the opportunity to stand for 
justice with the victims of sanctuary cities.
  It is completely offensive to me as an American that we have cities 
and, in some cases, entire States declaring themselves sanctuaries for 
illegal immigrants who are mercilessly committing crimes in our Nation.
  American citizens are being assaulted, raped, and murdered at the 
hands of illegal immigrants who should have been deported by ICE, but 
due to the blatant disregard of Federal law, cities are giving 
sanctuary to criminals and rapists while actual American citizens can 
do absolutely nothing about it.
  Just last year, two illegal immigrants committed a horrific gang-
related murder in the Seattle area. One took a baseball bat to the head 
and body of a high school student, killing him. Another took a machete 
to the teen, chopping off an arm and a leg and hacking at his neck.
  This followed another gang-related murder in King County, Washington, 
that also involved an illegal immigrant that local authorities refused 
to turn over to ICE for deportation.
  In the wake of the killings, King County officials have defended 
their policies and complained that ICE is harassing the county. 
Apparently, officials in King County, Washington, would rather have 
Americans be murdered by machete-wielding illegal immigrants than 
deport noncitizens who pose a risk to those who actually call America 
home.
  Ken Cuccinelli, Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, stated 
at the time: ``You're talking about literally crimes that never should 
have happened in this country because they're people who, upon their 
first interaction with the justice system, should have been deported.''

  Therefore, if cities are going to blatantly ignore the law of the 
land and provide sanctuary to illegal immigrants that commit crimes in 
our country, then those cities should be held financially accountable 
to the families of the victims, and those cities should be stripped of 
Federal funding until they comply with Federal law.
  I will take a step further. It should be a criminal offense for 
elected officials to blatantly ignore Federal immigration law, and they 
should be held accountable for denying ICE the ability to protect our 
country.
  I encourage all of my colleagues to support this important 
legislation.
  Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California 
(Mr. LaMalfa), a great friend of mine and a hardworking Member.
  Mr. LaMALFA. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Budd for yielding and for 
working on this issue even though he is not from a State that has as 
much of it as California.
  Indeed, I have seen so much happen to my population at home that many 
are giving up for a host of reasons, but this is one right near the top 
of the list for leaving our State, to go to others that don't have 
sanctuary cities or sanctuary State policies.
  If you go back in time, what really was at the front of this issue 
that put it on a lot of people's radar around the country was the Kate 
Steinle tragedy that happened in San Francisco. An illegal immigrant 
was here, having been deported many times over, and still had this 
opportunity for whatever the circumstances that took the life of Kate 
Steinle.
  Time and time again, in my home State, people are fed up. I had a 
chance to sit down with some members of ICE here the other day. They 
are just trying to do their job. They are just trying to uphold the 
law.
  Indeed, what some of my colleagues have talked about here this 
evening is that we have people actually causing the law to be broken 
that are elected officials--people that swore an oath to the 
Constitution, to the laws of this country, and to my home State--now 
causing one of the worst things: an increase of crime you can see in 
California.

                              {time}  1700

  The exodus from California comes from the root cause of things like 
not only the high cost of doing business but the crime wave that is 
hitting California, and that is rooted in this sanctuary city, illegal 
immigration, and the things that they cause to make our communities 
less safe.
  So, at this point, I am proud to be able to join in this bill that 
Mr. Budd is bringing.
  We need to have sanctions against States and cities and, as Mr. 
Steube talked about, hold accountable the public officials that are 
causing their own cities, their own jurisdictions, to be defying the 
law.
  How are we supposed to teach our kids or anybody that the law has 
value when we have people making it a contest to see how much they can 
defy the Trump administration and the law itself?
  Madam Speaker, I appreciate this time tonight and Mr. Budd's effort 
on this.
  Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. LaMalfa, and I appreciate his 
thoughts.
  Madam Speaker, at this time, I yield to someone who is focused on 
securing our border, making sure as well that West Virginia remains a 
great place to live, work, and raise a family, almost heaven, if you 
will.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. 
Miller).
  Mrs. MILLER. Madam Speaker, I would first like to thank my colleague 
from North Carolina (Mr. Budd) for his leadership on this important 
issue.
  We still have a crisis on our southern border. While we have made 
progress, we need to finish the job.
  We are continuing to construct our border wall, to strengthen our 
ports of entry, and to keep drugs and crime out of our communities. 
Yet, while President Trump, the heads of our Federal agencies, and 
congressional Republicans have joined together to draft good 
legislation and enforce our country's laws, we, sadly, have areas in 
our country that harbor criminals under the hypocritical title of 
sanctuary cities.
  In defiance of our laws, many places like San Francisco, Los Angeles, 
New York City, and others have publicly pledged to serve as a safe 
haven for the dangerous criminals living in the shadows of our society.
  Meaningful immigration reform is crucial, but removing dangerous 
criminals cannot wait. Crime affects every person in this country--
every citizen, every visitor, every single person, whether of legal 
status or otherwise. We have seen that anybody can be a victim of crime 
when our city leaders refuse to remove violent offenders off our 
streets.
  These city officials have provided sanctuaries for lawbreakers but 
not for law followers. We need justice for those victims.
  While city leaders protect criminals from deportation and frustrate 
our Federal immigration enforcers, it is well past time to create a 
pathway to justice for the law-abiding members of our communities.
  If these sanctuary city officials will not protect their citizens, 
they must pay a price. They must be held accountable and responsible 
for their reckless negligence.
  We need to allow victims and their families to sue these cities that 
have blocked our Federal agents from enforcing laws and shielded 
violent criminals from removal. President Trump spoke of this in his 
eloquent and powerful State of the Union Message.
  I am proud to cosponsor the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities 
Act introduced by Mr. Budd because my fellow West Virginians and many 
Americans know that this is the right thing for our country.
  Good governance depends on transparency and accountability for our 
citizens and cooperation between Federal, State, and local leaders. 
Sanctuary cities deny these.
  Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I thank Mrs. Miller for being here tonight. 
I appreciate her support on this.
  Madam Speaker, I thank all of my colleagues who have made it tonight 
to speak on the dangers that sanctuary cities pose to the communities 
around us.
  It strikes me as common sense to pursue legislation that allows 
families and victims legal recourse against the municipalities and 
policies that have caused them so much damage.

[[Page H1585]]

  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________