Crapo Joins Risch to Introduce Bill to End Taxpayer Funded Handouts to Illegal Immigrants

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) in introducing the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act, which would block federal funding to sanctuary cities intended to benefit illegal immigrants.

The bill aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,” which blocks federal agencies and programs from providing taxpayer-funded services to illegal immigrants.

“Not a single taxpayer dollar should be used to provide unwarranted hand-outs to non-citizen migrants or to cities giving them any unearned financial advantages,” said Crapo.  “Federal resources should be used to secure the borders, not invite and encourage illegal immigration.”

“Sanctuary cities abuse taxpayer dollars and fuel the illegal immigration crisis,” said Risch.  “My No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act stops these jurisdictions from using federal funding to directly give handouts to illegal immigrants.” 

Additional co-sponsors of the legislation include Senators Steve Daines (R-Montana), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Jim Banks (R-Indiana) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi).  Representative Nick LaLota (R-New York) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act would:

• Define “sanctuary jurisdiction” as any local or state government entity that withholds information regarding an individual’s citizenship status from federal, state or other local authorities; and
• Prevent sanctuary jurisdictions from receiving federal funds for the specific benefit of illegal immigrants.

###