Rep. Marsha Blackburn said Tuesday that President Trump’s crackdown on sanctuary cities is vital to the safety of American communities.
“This is something that needs to happen,” Ms. Blackburn, Tennessee Republican, said on Fox News. “That order needs to be in place.”
Ms. Blackburn was referring to Mr. Trump’s executive order that would ban federal funding to cities that refuse to comply with the federal immigration law, known as “sanctuary cities.”
A judge ruled Monday that the order was unconstitutional saying the executive branch cannot change the conditions on funding approved by Congress.
Ms. Blackburn reintroduced legislation earlier this year that would set new standards for local law enforcement in regards to crime committed by illegal aliens. The Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal (CLEAR) Act would require the Department of Homeland Security to either incarcerate an illegal alien who has committed a crime, or request the state officials to send that person to a federal facility.
The goal of the bill is to help local law enforcement deal with crime committed by illegal aliens and set guidelines for how to handle such situations.
“That is why I introduced the CLEAR Act, again, after 10 years of working on this, to end this practice and to make certain these people are deported,” Ms. Blackburn explained.
She said allowing sanctuary cities to continue evading federal law sets a dangerous precedent.
“What happens if you want to have a sanctuary city for other types of federal law evasion?” she asked. “I think this is a danger to the safety of our communities and cities, and I think it’s a danger for the rule of law.”
Ms. Blackburn first introduced the CLEAR Act in 2009.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
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