Vulnerable House Republicans are on board with voting for a bill that aims to deny federal assistance to programs that benefit undocumented immigrants in sanctuary jurisdictions.
The No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act makes jurisdictions that don’t cooperate with federal immigration authorities “ineligible to receive any federal funds that the sanctuary jurisdiction intends to use for the benefit of” undocumented immigrants.
A vote on the rule for the bill is scheduled for today, with final passage set for Friday.
This seems like standard GOP fare. But Democrats we spoke to told us the bill could have unintended consequences, such as banning funding for infrastructure projects and education programs.
“It’s excessive. A complete blanket ban on funding. Everybody uses roads, everybody uses schools,” Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) said.
But Republicans representing Democratic-leaning seats brushed off these concerns.
“I don’t know that it’s a practical, reasonable application of the bill,” Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), the bill’s sponsor, told us. “I think they’re trying to find an excuse to wiggle out of it. It’s very popular amongst my constituents.”
“New York is spending billions of dollars of taxpayer money to house, clothe, feed and educate illegal immigrants,” Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), another at-risk Republican, said. “That is something that shouldn’t be.”
— Max Cohen
