U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) voted today in support of a bill that would remove key federal funding from sanctuary cities that ignore federal immigration law. The “Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act,” H.R. 3009, passed the House by a vote of 241-179.

The bill would block specific federal grants from cities that prevent law enforcement officials from gathering information or communicating with the Department of Homeland Security about an individual’s citizenship or immigration status. According to federal law, states and local governments cannot “prohibit, or in any way restrict,” law enforcement officials from sending or receiving such information, but some municipalities, known as “sanctuary cities,” do not comply with this statute. Thornberry has voted for three similar provisions regarding sanctuary cities in the past two years.

“America is a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. And while I believe our immigration system is broken and must be fixed, that does not mean state and local governments – including these so called ‘sanctuary cities’ – can ignore federal law,” said Thornberry. “Anyone who disagrees with current immigration law should work with Congress to pass new laws, and that includes the President.”

The Department of Justice offers grants to cover some of the costs of incarcerating illegal immigrants and to provide personnel, training, and other support for criminal justice purposes. This bill would make the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program grants, Community Oriented Policing Services grants, and the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant unavailable to state and local governments that refuse to comply with current federal immigration law.