Republican senators are pushing for legislative action to cut federal funding to sanctuary cities, arguing that these municipalities are in violation of federal law and are contributing to a culture of lawlessness by sheltering undocumented immigrants. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) have been vocal in their opposition to sanctuary cities, stating that such policies have persisted for too long and must be curtailed. Britt emphasized that it is ‘time to say enough is enough,’ warning that providing federal resources to jurisdictions that do not respect federal law is a fundamental misstep.
Katie Britt argues that the federal government has a responsibility to ensure that its laws are upheld at the local level, and that allowing sanctuary cities to operate without accountability is both a legal and moral failure. ‘I don’t understand why we would continue to give federal dollars to someone who doesn’t abide by federal law,’ she said. ‘That is very simple.’ Britt also highlighted the broader concerns over the increasing number of illegal migrants crossing the border, describing it as ‘one of the most litigated issues in the last four years.’ She criticized sanctuary city policies for enabling criminal behavior and refusing to assist federal immigration authorities, calling such actions ‘absolute insanity.’
Bernie Moreno echoed Britt’s sentiments, stressing that ‘nobody is above the, the law,’ and that local officials who defy federal law must face consequences. Moreno called for legislative action to cut federal funding to sanctuary cities, arguing that it is the only way to ensure compliance with federal immigration policy. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) also added his voice to the chorus, stating that sanctuary cities are not protecting their communities and are instead creating a risk for law-abiding citizens. Scott warned that the current immigration system is broken and that the focus should be on securing the border and ensuring that undocumented immigrants are not allowed to enter without proper vetting.
Meanwhile, Democratic and independent senators have shown little support for the call to cut federal funding to sanctuary cities. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) stated that he is not aware of any sanctuary cities in Virginia, while independent Senator Angus King (I-Maine) expressed a lack of comment on the issue. Some Republicans, such as Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), have called for enforcement of the law, but have not explicitly called for funding cuts. Instead, Cassidy suggested that local officials who deliberately defy federal law should face the consequences of their actions, though he was unclear on what those consequences might be. The debate over sanctuary cities continues to reflect deep ideological divides in Congress, with Republicans insisting on federal oversight and Democrats generally advocating for local control and sanctuary policies as a means to protect immigrant communities.