Nation’s Mayors Urge U.S. Senators to Remove Dangerous New Immigration Enforcement Provision from Reconciliation Bill

Measure Would Undermine Public Safety, Strain Local Communities, Erode Trust Between Residents and Law Enforcement

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the bipartisan U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) released a letter to U.S. senators urging them to remove a newly added immigration enforcement provision from the reconciliation bill currently under consideration in the Senate. The provision would provide $350 million to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for enforcement actions in jurisdictions deemed "non-cooperating" and expand detention and deportation authorities affecting a broad range of immigrants.

In the letter, USCM CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran warns that the provision could undermine public safety by damaging trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, making residents less likely to report crimes, cooperate with investigations or seek assistance when needed. Cochran also raises concerns that the measure could trigger disruptive enforcement actions in cities across the country and place additional strain on local communities.

"Public safety is the top priority for mayors," Cochran writes. "This provision will weaken public safety and weaken our cities, our states and our nation. We urge you to remove it from the reconciliation bill as quickly as it was inserted."

The full letter follows:

Dear Senator,

I write on behalf of America's mayors to register our strong opposition to a dangerous new provision that suddenly appeared today in the reconciliation bill the Senate is considering this week. This provision would provide ICE with $350 million to launch enforcement actions in jurisdictions considered to be "non-cooperating" with the agency and empower ICE to arrest, detain and deport a broadly defined group of immigrants in these cities and states.

Cities targeted could include those that do not have 287(g) agreements or have not filed a certificate of compliance with federal laws that prohibit limitations on communication between local law enforcement and DHS.

Immigrants targeted could include any person ever charged with unauthorized entry or reentry (regardless of whether the charges were dismissed or their current status) and any person under an ICE detainer after an arrest for any offense other than a minor traffic charge. The provision would prohibit ICE from using any of the funds to release any of these immigrants, except as required by law, thus subjecting them to prolonged detention.

This provision has the potential to wreak havoc in cities across the country. It could lead to retaliatory ICE surges in jurisdictions that fail to satisfy administration demands - surges that would strike fear in immigrant communities and lead to demonstrations in cities across the country.

Public safety is the top priority for mayors. This provision will weaken public safety and weaken our cities, our states and our nation. We urge you to remove it from the reconciliation bill as quickly as it was inserted.

Sincerely,

Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director