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WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta hopes the third time is a charm when it comes to his proposed legislation that would stop federal funding for sanctuary cities.
As the 115th Congress gets underway, Barletta has once again introduced the Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities Act — House Resolution 83 — which would stop all federal funds from flowing to states or localities that resist or ban enforcement of federal immigration laws or flatly refuse to cooperate with immigration officials.
The bill is the first piece of legislation introduced by Barletta in the 115th Congress and represents the third time the congressman has introduced the measure. In 2011, the bill was the first piece of legislation he ever introduced as a member of Congress, and he introduced it a second time in the 114th Congress in 2015.
But with Republican President Donald Trump about to be sworn in on Jan. 20, Barletta said he is more optimistic than ever that his bill will pass.
“This is the most optimistic I’ve been since I’ve been in Congress,” said Barletta, who begins his fourth term representing the 11th Congressional District. “There had been no will under President Obama’s administration to enforce our immigration laws and punish cities that refuse to cooperate with the federal government and ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.)”
Barletta said his optimism stems largely from discussions he has had with Trump, which have centered on what the president-elect has said over the past year.
“The fact is that (Trump) hasn’t backed off in reminding people that he will secure our borders,” Barletta said.
That campaign pledge was re-enforced Wednesday when Barletta and other members of Congress met with Vice President-elect Mike Pence.
“The vice president reiterated that Trump will secure our borders, that he will build a wall and he will enforce the law,” Barletta said. “This is very personal for me. I was the first mayor in America at the time to pass a law to stop illegal immigration and enforce our immigration laws, and I was sued for that. It became a national issue and started a crusade that I have not backed down from, and I don’t intend to now.”
Barletta said he was sued for wanting to enforce federal laws that were already on the books. He said when he first introduced his legislation, there were about 80 sanctuary cities, and today, he said there are more than 300.
Barletta said he expects Trump’s election will change the way members of Congress feel about the issue and, he said, his bill will finally pass.
When he was mayor in Hazleton, Barletta said the city’s population grew by 50 percent, but the tax revenue stayed the same. He said the population growth placed increased demands on police, fire and highway services.
“Someone has to pay for that,” Barletta said.
Barletta said co-sponsors are lining up for his legislation, and he intends to “lobby hard” to move it forward. He said the bill will first go to the Homeland Security Committee and then to the House floor.
Barletta said he is confident Trump, as president, will support the bill.
“Maybe he will Tweet about it,” Barletta said. “That would get it across the finish line for sure.”
Barletta said one of the principal duties of the government is to protect its citizens, and he said the idea of sanctuary cities runs completely counter to that responsibility.
“Too many mayors and local governments think that they are above federal law and place their own ideology ahead of the safety of their residents,” Barletta said. “This bill will stop that practice by saying to these sanctuary cities, ‘If you refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, you will lose your federal funding.’”
Barletta introduced the bill as a freshman congressman in 2011 because of his personal experience with the danger of sanctuary cities while he was mayor of Hazleton. In 2006, a 29-year-old local father of three, Derek Kichline, was murdered by an illegal immigrant who had been released by law enforcement a number of times, including by the sanctuary city of New York. Additionally, Barletta said, he was spurred to reintroduce the bill in 2015 following the San Francisco murder of 32-year-old Kate Steinle, whose accused killer was a seven-time felon who had been deported five times previously.
Toomey has proposed legislation
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Zionsville, continues his fight to protect communities from violent criminals who are in the U.S. illegally by calling for action on his bill, the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act.
Toomey introduced legislation that would withhold certain federal funds from sanctuary cities. Toomey also outlined a way Trump could help keep violent criminals off the streets by issuing an executive order.
The Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act received bipartisan support on the Senate floor in July. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., joined Republicans in voting to move it forward.