Press Releases

 On Tuesday, Rep. Mike Johnson (LA-04) testified before the House Rules Committee on H.R. 3003, the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, and H.R. 3004, Kate’s Law. These bills set strict penalties on dangerous sanctuary city policies that needlessly put innocent lives at risk and take further steps to ensure repeat-criminal offenders are punished accordingly. Both bills are up for a vote in the House this week.

 You can view video of Johnson’s testimony here. The text of the testimony can be found here.

Rep. Johnson released the following statement:

“No legislation can prevent every tragedy, but we have a duty to take every action possible to mitigate danger to the public caused by the flaws in our immigration system. So-called 'sanctuary cities' make our communities and our country more dangerous by sheltering criminals like Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, who heartlessly took the life of Kate Steinle. Enforcing our immigration laws, and punishing those that blatantly ignore them, is critically important to maintain public safety and the rule of law."

Background

The No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, strengthens current law to combat dangerous sanctuary city policies that shield unlawful and criminal immigrants from federal immigration enforcement. Specifically, the bill clarifies U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer authority – the tool used by federal immigration enforcement officers to pick up criminal aliens from local jails – by established statutory probable cause standards to issue detainers for the first time.

Kate's Law, also sponsored by Chairman Goodlatte, protects public safety by enhancing penalties for deported felons who return to the U.S. The bill provides strengthened penalties for aliens convicted of illegal reentry who have a serious criminal record. For example, criminal aliens convicted of three or more misdemeanors or a felony prior to reentry could receive a maximum sentence of 10 years. A criminal alien convicted of a felony and sentenced to at least 30 months could receive a maximum sentence of 15 years.