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Today, Representative John Culberson (R-TX) successfully added an amendment to the FY2007 Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations Bill. The amendment would block federal law enforcement funding for cities and counties that have adopted "sanctuary policies." These policies prevent local law enforcement officers from asking individuals they arrest, detain or stop whether or not they are in the country legally.   

 

Culberson said, "My amendment will enforce existing federal law by cutting off funding for cities and counties that do not repeal their sanctuary policies. These policies are designed to shield criminal aliens, and my amendment is intended to uncloak them."

 

Under current federal law, cities and counties cannot restrict the ability of local law enforcement officers to inquire about the immigration status of individuals they arrest, detain, or stop. However, 29 cities (including Houston, New York and Los Angeles) and 3 counties have adopted sanctuary policies which prevent law enforcement officers from inquiring about immigration status.

 

On January 26, 2004, 18-year-old Virginia Garcia was raped and murdered by David Diaz Morales in Austin, Texas, a sanctuary city. Morales, an illegal immigrant, had been arrested previously for child molestation, but was not deported because Austin's sanctuary policy prohibited the arresting officers from determining his immigration status.

 

"This law and order amendment will help local law enforcement officers do their jobs. They need every tool at their disposal to identify criminal aliens that are evading federal authorities and hiding behind sanctuary policies," Culberson said.

 

 

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