Austin News

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has reintroduced the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act. The proposed legislation aims to enable local law enforcement agencies to collaborate with federal immigration authorities. It also seeks to withdraw taxpayer-funded grants from sanctuary cities.

In a statement made upon the introduction of the bill, Senator Cruz remarked, "Sanctuary cities continue to defy the law by releasing dangerous criminals back into our communities instead of turning them over to federal immigration authorities. These policies jeopardize the safety of American citizens and undermine both public safety and the rule of law. We should hold these jurisdictions accountable, and the Senate should expeditiously take up and advance this legislation."

The bill is backed by several co-sponsors including Senators Kevin Cramer from North Dakota, Tim Sheehy from Montana, Ron Johnson from Wisconsin, James Lankford from Oklahoma, Chuck Grassley from Iowa, Pete Ricketts from Nebraska, Rick Scott from Florida, Ted Budd from North Carolina, Shelley Moore Capito from West Virginia, Deb Fischer from Nebraska, Bill Hagerty from Tennessee, John Hoeven from North Dakota, Cindy Hyde-Smith from Mississippi, and Jim Banks from Indiana.

Senator Cruz had previously introduced a similar version of this bill in 2023.