H.R. 4565: No DOT Funds for Sanctuary Cities Act

This bill, titled the No DOT Funds for Sanctuary Cities Act, proposes to prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from providing federal grants or funding to entities classified as "sanctuary cities." A sanctuary city is defined in the bill as any state or local government that has laws or policies that limit their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Specifically, this includes practices that prevent government officials from sharing information about individuals' immigration status or complying with federal requests related to detaining or notifying federal authorities about individuals in custody.

Key Provisions

• Funding Prohibition: The bill prohibits federal funding and grants to sanctuary cities, meaning they would not receive financial support for transportation projects or infrastructure from the Department of Transportation.
• Waiver Process: There is a provision allowing the Secretary of Transportation to apply for a waiver of this prohibition on a case-by-case basis. However, to obtain a waiver, the Secretary must certify that the funding in question serves the national interest of the United States and submit this certification to specific congressional committees at least 15 days in advance.
• Definition of Sanctuary Cities: The bill includes a clear definition of what constitutes a sanctuary city, focusing on local statutes or policies that limit information sharing about immigration status or restrict compliance with federal immigration detainer requests.

Impact on Local Governments

If this bill is enacted, sanctuary cities would potentially face financial challenges, particularly in acquiring federal funding for transportation infrastructure projects. This could impact urban development, public transportation initiatives, and transportation safety improvements in these areas.

Relevant Companies

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