S. 707: No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act

This bill, titled the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act, seeks to restrict federal funding to certain areas defined as "sanctuary jurisdictions." A sanctuary jurisdiction is generally a state or local government that has laws or policies preventing officials from sharing information about individuals' immigration status with federal authorities or from complying with federal requests regarding these individuals, specifically those who are in the U.S. without lawful status.

Key Provisions

• Definition of Sanctuary Jurisdictions: The bill defines sanctuary jurisdictions as those that limit the sharing of information regarding a person's immigration status or refuse to comply with federal immigration detainer requests, except in specific situations involving victims or witnesses of crimes.
• Restrictions on Federal Funds: The bill would make sanctuary jurisdictions ineligible to receive federal funds intended for the benefit of undocumented immigrants. This includes funding for food, shelter, healthcare services, legal assistance, and transportation for individuals unlawfully present in the country.
• Timeline for Implementation: The restrictions on federal funding would take effect either 60 days after the bill is enacted or at the beginning of the next fiscal year, whichever comes first.
• Reporting Requirements: The Secretary of Homeland Security is mandated to submit annual reports to Congress identifying states or localities that have failed to comply with the requests for information from federal immigration authorities.

Exceptions

The bill specifies that jurisdictions will not be classified as sanctuary jurisdictions solely for having policies that protect victims or witnesses of crimes from deportation proceedings. This is meant to encourage cooperation with law enforcement in criminal cases.

Overall Impact

The overall aim of the legislation is to deter states and local governments from adopting policies that protect undocumented immigrants by removing potential federal funding for services that benefit these populations. By doing so, the bill reflects a broader federal effort to enforce immigration laws at the state and local levels.

Relevant Companies

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