House Republicans will vote on two anti-immigrant bills sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) that will “supercharge” Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda by attacking local pro-immigrant policies, undercutting local law enforcement by making communities less safe, empowering an already out-of-control ICE, and ramping up deportations “beyond the currently outrageous levels.”
It’s draconian and reprehensible legislation that does nothing to make us safer and only scapegoats undocumented immigrant families. As one immigrant rights leader said: “Despite the costs and consequences already on display throughout the country, House Republicans are poised to put the Trump Administration’s existing cruel approach into overdrive.”
You’d think that plenty of these so-called “small government conservatives” would be steaming-mad about federal intrusion into local government, but this morning Trump’s racist mission to make America white again appeared to get a stamp of approval from Speaker Paul Ryan. Guess P90X doesn’t work on spines:
That’s just a flat-out lie. As former American Immigration Lawyers Association president David Leopold has previously outlined, these pro-immigrant policies not only follow the law, they make communities safer. Of course, this is the same Paul Ryan who told a frightened Dreamer earlier this year that if she was worried “some deportation force coming, knocking on your door this year, don't worry about that.” Care to update, Mr. Speaker?
Already, over 400 state, local, and national immigrant, religious, and civil rights organizations have issued a call on House members of both parties to vote against furthering Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda in favor of pro-immigrant policies that advance American values:
Instead of passing discredited enforcement-only legislation, Congress should move forward on enacting just immigration reform legislation that provides a roadmap to citizenship for the nation's eleven million aspiring Americans and eliminates mass detention and deportation programs that undermine fundamental human rights.
Legislation that erodes public safety, disrespects local democratic processes, and raises serious constitutional concerns represents an abdication of the Congress' responsibility to enact fair, humane, and just immigration policy. In light of the above, we urge you to vote NO on the NoSanctuary for Criminals Act, H.R. 3003 and Kate’s Law, H.R. 3004.
“Simply put, these two bills won’t make our neighborhoods safer—in fact, they will jeopardize national security, undermine the Constitution, and threaten public safety,” said Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
“It is no surprise that major law enforcement groups across the country have strongly opposed the immigration policies put forward by the GOP Congress and the Trump Administration,” she continued. “American families deserve real solutions to our broken immigration system—that means fixing our immigration system, not playing politics by scapegoating immigrant communities and threatening the effectiveness of local law enforcement.”
Ignore the fear-based lies from deporter-in-chief Donald Trump and his enablers in Congress. The fact is that local law enforcement supports pro-immigrant policies because they just don’t make their jobs easier, they make communities safer. The Fraternal Order of Police:
[W]ithholding needed assistance to law enforcement agencies – which have no policymaking role – also hurts public safety efforts … It is unjust to penalize law enforcement and the citizens they serve because Congress disagrees with their enforcement priorities with respect to our nation’s immigration laws … On behalf of more than 330,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I want to urge the House to reject H.R. 3003’s punitive approach and work with law enforcement to find a better way to improve public safety in our communities.
You can help defend immigrant families by calling your House member at (202) 224-3121 and demand they vote NO on “Kate's Law” and “No Sanctuary” bills. Both will harm public safety and ramp up senseless deportations.