Indianapolis – April 3, 2025. Police departments routinely provide mutual aid across jurisdictions in times of need. These collaborations extend to federal law enforcement, which partners with local law enforcement to safely detain and arrest illegal criminal migrants. Some local jurisdictions with self-proclaimed sanctuary status shamefully prohibit this cooperation, placing officers and the communities they serve at risk. When officers in Rochester, New York, recently answered a call for emergency assistance from Border Patrol agents, for example, they were publicly chastised by their police chief and mayor. Federal tax dollars should not be funding this type of malfeasance, which is why the National Police Association (NPA) endorses the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act (H.R. 32 / S. 707). It is a federal bill that would financially penalize state and local jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agencies. This bill was introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-1) and on the Senate side by Sen. Jim Risch (ID). It is currently in the Judiciary Committee for consideration. The text for the Senate bill is here, and the text for the House bill is here.
The No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order to end taxpayer funding of open borders. This bill would:
- Define a sanctuary jurisdiction as a local or state government unit that withholds information about someone’s citizenship status from federal, state, or other local enforcement authorities. Exceptions would be made in cases calling for the protection of witnesses and crime victims.
- Prevent sanctuary jurisdictions from receiving federal funds that aid illegal immigrants, including for amenities like food, shelter, healthcare, transportation, and legal services.
The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would be required to submit an annual report to congressional judiciary committees. It would include names of local government units not in compliance with detainer requests.
“American taxpayers should not be required to fund grants -which can extend to the tens and even hundreds, of millions of dollars- for so-called sanctuary cities. Their policies promote illegal immigration and prohibit law enforcement agencies from working in partnership to maintain public safety,” said Paula Fitzsimmons, Legislative Director for the National Police Association. “The No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act would send a resounding message to these cities that subverting the law and prohibiting officers from doing what they are trained to do will not be tolerated,” Fitzsimmons added.
The NPA extends its gratitude to Rep. LaLota and Sen. Risch for introducing the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act, a commonsense bill to incentivize cooperation between local government units and federal immigration agencies. As a result, officers would be free to do what they do best -to protect and serve- instead of having to retreat in times of need. We urge members of Congress to support this bill and to work to ensure its passage.
About the National Police Association: The National Police Association (NPA) is a nonprofit organization supporting law enforcement through advocacy, education, and law. For more information, visit NationalPolice.org.
###