Rep. Brat Reacts to Va. Gov. Northam's Veto of Bill Banning Sanctuary Cities

Statement

Today, Rep. Dave Brat, a former economics professor, reacted to the news Virginia Governor Ralph Northam vetoed a bill banning sanctuary cities, which passed both of the state's legislative chambers. The bill was a single sentence: "No locality shall adopt any ordinance, procedure, or policy that restricts the enforcement of federal immigration laws."

Rep. Brat released the following statement:

"Public safety should be an easy priority for Americans to rally around. Lax enforcement of our immigration laws has failed the American people by creating safety risks.

"There are large swaths of the American homeland that are in open defiance of federal law. Sanctuary cities provide safe harbor to illegal immigrants, which presents a problem because we do not know who is living there. In numerous cases, like the case of Kate Steinle, illegal aliens who have been repeat offenders find haven in these cities and cause more violence and death.

"This bill would have helped restore law and order to Virginia. I am extremely disappointed Gov. Ralph Northam would needlessly put Virginian families at risk to score political points with his extreme left base."

It's been estimated that in just over a year, more than 10,000 confirmed criminal illegal aliens have found refuge in sanctuary cities. Moreover, a Boston Globe review found that of 323 criminal illegal immigrants released in New England from 2008 to 2012 as many as 30 percent of those released committed new offenses.

More pertinent background: Rep. Dave Brat has introduced H.R. 4928 that would provide that the United States District Court for the District of Columbia shall have exclusive jurisdiction over actions arising under the immigration laws, and for other purposes.

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