Rep. Hunter won’t assist with federal aid requests

By Stephen Dinan - The Washington Times - Thursday, February 9, 2017

A prominent congressman said Thursday that he won’t help advance any funding requests from sanctuary cities, saying he’s taking a personal stand in trying to stop jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate in deporting illegal immigrants.

Counties, cities and school boards line up each year to beg their members of Congress to put in a good word for them when the federal government is working on its annual spending bills, hoping to garner a piece of the federal pie.

But Rep. Duncan Hunter, California Republican, said he won’t be involved in any request filed by a jurisdiction that tries to thwart federal agents.

“Sanctuaries that defy federal immigration laws should be held accountable,” Mr. Hunter said. “If a state or local entity prefers to violate the law and not cooperate on federal immigration matters, this should be an immediate disqualifier for federal funding.

He challenged other members of Congress to refuse as well, hoping they can exert pressure from Capitol Hill to try to rein in the growing number of cities that say they’ll become sanctuaries.

Federal law requires local authorities to cooperate with federal agents, but sanctuary cities order their policy to disregard that obligation. The movement has grown in recent months as immigrant-rights groups pressure communities to resist what they fear will be a crackdown by the new Trump administration.

Sanctuary advocates say localities shouldn’t play a role in helping advance federal law. Advocates also say that immigrants, including those here legally, become fearful of reporting crimes if they think their local officer are involved with federal agents.

President Trump last month signed an executive order instructing his attorney general and Homeland Security secretary to look at what funds they can strip from sanctuary cities.

Mr. Hunter’s move goes even deeper, though, resisting cities who seek earmarked funds for everything from construction and road projects to grants.

Mr. Hunter will ask any local government that comes to his office seeking federal funding to certify it’s not a sanctuary, and will also conduct his own review to make sure requesters aren’t thwarting the law.

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