ICYMI: Chairman Graham Highlights the Costs & Dangers of Sanctuary City Policies

ICYMI: Chairman Graham Highlights the Costs & Dangers of Sanctuary City Policies

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, today held a hearing entitled, "Sanctuary Cities: The Cost of Undermining Law and Order." This hearing focused on the consequences of sanctuary policies that have been adopted by more than two hundred cities and twelve states across the nation.

• GRAHAM: "We'll never fix illegal immigration, until [we] get to the source of the problem. And one of the problems we have is magnets to encourage future illegal immigration." https://youtu.be/LlkH_MMz1JM?si=5DDFTn2mzaehZCI7&t=174

• GRAHAM: "We believe [sanctuary cities] endanger public safety. [There have been] 10,000 criminals released by sanctuary policies who went on to be arrested for additional crimes. They should have been turned over, [but] they weren't. They stayed in the country, and they committed crimes. Nine billion [dollars] in fraud -- that we know of -- and probably growing. Fifty-nine percent of illegal immigrant households [are] on government welfare programs costing taxpayers $42 billion a year." https://youtu.be/LlkH_MMz1JM?si=C6SFtPCGxmTfVXJV&t=207

One recent example of the dangers that stem from sanctuary jurisdictions involves the story of Abdul Jalloh, an illegal immigrant from Sierra Leone with a long criminal history, who murdered Stephanie Minter, a young mom from Virginia, in February. Chairman Graham described how the sanctuary policies of Fairfax County directly led to this tragedy.

• GRAHAM: "We had this man in detention in Fairfax County, [Virginia], and they refused to turn him over for deportation. He was allowed to stay in the county, and the rest is history. A young mom is dead because of that decision." https://youtu.be/LlkH_MMz1JM?si=vsmEBUqgCf2VPVfo&t=300

• GRAHAM: "How many people need to be stabbed before a guy like that is deported? And what's the upside of keeping him here? Is this the model citizen we want to keep in America? Now, there's an ideology around sanctuary cities that needs to be broken, and we're here to break it." https://youtu.be/LlkH_MMz1JM?si=Tuasp50daGs9PS8h&t=419

Senate Democrats have refused to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unless President Trump and Republicans cave to their list of demands involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). One of their most extreme demands would require ICE to obtain judicial warrants, as opposed to administrative warrants, to deport illegal immigrants.

• GRAHAM: "When President Obama deported 3 million people, it was called being strong and good government. When [Republicans] try to deport people, as a result of being invaded by illegal immigrants for four years under the Biden Administration, we're [called] nazis and bad guys. I don't buy that at all. I think most Americans would like to get control over our country and [restore] sovereignty over our nation." https://youtu.be/LlkH_MMz1JM?si=he5ExoSAamtEl7sT&t=110

• GRAHAM: "Is it accurate that Barack Obama deported 3 million people when he was president?"
• BIER: "Those are total removals, not people deported from the interior."
• GRAHAM: "What does that mean?"
• BIER: "Well, there are people deported from the borders who never lived in the United States."
• GRAHAM: "Were there people deported inside the United States?"
• BIER: "Well, I think it's a little unfair to compare people."
• GRAHAM: "You don't want to answer a question, that's fine, but don't tell me what's fair and unfair. Bottom line: did he use judicial warrants to deport anybody? When he deported somebody [from] the interior, did he have a judicial warrant?"
• BIER: "No."
• GRAHAM: "No. Why? Because it's stupid." https://youtu.be/LlkH_MMz1JM?si=XPt-gsEFja8XELYU&t=693

• GRAHAM: "This hearing to me is stunning. I'm so glad we had it. [Democrats are] 'all-in' on sanctuary city policies… To America, if you're looking for anybody to change this system, our Democratic friends have no interest. They think it's good for America. [They think] the more illegal immigrants, the better. I don't." https://youtu.be/LlkH_MMz1JM?si=mcRtw598udByrmcy&t=1033

• GRAHAM: "[To Democrats] You're not trying to reform ICE. You're trying to stop deportations. If it were up to you, we would have more illegal immigrants." https://youtu.be/LlkH_MMz1JM?si=KAmypZDC7fwc7O60&t=793

Click here to watch Chairman Graham's Opening Statement, Questions and Closing Remarks.

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