It’s official, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has sanctuary cities in his cross-hairs. In a White House briefing, Sessions said policies that protect immigrant felons from immigration laws must not be allowed to continue. He insisted that violent crimes committed by undocumented criminals are on the rise.
Sessions argued that "countless Americans would be alive" if sanctuary cities didn't exist and warned that sanctuary cities risk losing federal dollars if they don't stop what they're doing. Sessions said the entire country is less safe when cities and states fail to enforce immigration laws. But how much money are we talking? In the current fiscal year, the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Program and Community Oriented Policing services anticipates awarding more than $4.1-billion in grants.
“I'm urging states and local jurisdictions to comply with these federal laws, including 8 U.S.C. Section 1373. Moreover, the Department of Justice will require that jurisdictions seeking or applying for Department of Justice grants to certify compliance with 1373 as a condition of receiving those awards,” Sessions said in a statement. “It also made clear that failure to remedy violations could result in withholding grants, termination of grants, and disbarment or ineligibility for future grants."
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza has made no bones about flying directly in the face of Sessions mission and it might wind up costing the city...and the state....big time.