New US Legislation Aims To Block Funding To 'Sanctuary Cities' - Senator

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th May, 2019) New legislation introduced to the US Congress aims to block Federal funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" that limit cooperation with US immigration authorities, US Senator Patrick Toomey said on Thursday.

"The Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act would withhold certain non-law enforcement federal grant funds from 'sanctuary cities' - jurisdictions that forbid their local law enforcement officers from cooperating with federal immigration officials, even when they wish to do so," Toomey said in a press release.

Toomey argued that sanctuary cities are "dangerolus" and constitute a threat to public safety because they extend protection to illegal immigrants even if law enforcement officials identified them as criminals.

Jurisdictions dubbed "sanctuary cities" limit cooperation with federal agencies in locating and deporting immigrants who allegedly entered the United States illegally.

Many local officials prefer to call their jurisdictions "safe cities" whose aim is to protect low-priority immigrants from deportation while still turning over those who have committed serious crimes, according to the America's Voice (AV) advocacy group.