Utah lawmaker wants to punish cities that help transport migrants.
Proposed legislation from Utah lawmaker, Republican Rep. Burgess Owens, aims to address the issue of sanctuary cities transporting illegal migrants into non-sanctuary municipalities. The Sanctuary City Oversight and Responsibility in Enforcement (SCORE) Act, presented by Owens, seeks to hold sanctuary cities accountable for their own migrants if passed.
Owens emphasized the importance of American safety, security, and the rule of law, stating, “If this administration won’t fight for American safety, security, and rule of law, our Republican majority will.” He added, “I introduced a bill to drop the taxpayer dollars funding migrants pouring into our communities.”
The proposed SCORE Act would limit the use of FEMA Shelter and Services Program (SSP) funding for purchasing transportation to other municipalities without permission from local authorities. The FEMA SSP funding is designed to financially assist recipients in supporting migrants awaiting court appearances.
Additionally, under the SCORE Act, migrants being transported to another location would need to have a documented sponsor at their destination to ensure that they will not require government shelter. The Government Accountability Office would also be required to produce quarterly reports on the recipients of FEMA grants to ensure compliance.
Owens’ drive to create this legislation stemmed from an incident in which Denver authorities provided over 1,500 tickets for illegal migrants to travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, without informing local officials. He expressed his concern over self-declared sanctuary cities like Denver sending migrants to non-sanctuary cities like Salt Lake City without transparency, attributing this to the overwhelming resources caused by the Biden-Harris open border agenda.
For more context, sanctuary cities are jurisdictions that limit their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement authorities, typically by not allowing local resources to be used for enforcing immigration laws. These cities often prioritize building trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities to enhance public safety.
While sanctuary cities have been a topic of controversy, with critics arguing they undermine national security and immigration laws, supporters contend that they promote inclusivity and protect immigrant communities. The issue of sanctuary cities has become particularly prominent in recent years as debates surrounding immigration policy and reform have intensified.
It is essential to consider the complex factors at play within the sanctuary city debate, including legal, social, and humanitarian concerns. As discussions around immigration policy continue to evolve, the impact of legislation like the proposed SCORE Act on sanctuary cities and their residents remains a critical point of examination.
