Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
This bill aims to establish eligibility requirements for the use of federal funds designated for Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) support in jurisdictions deemed "sanctuary jurisdictions." A sanctuary jurisdiction is defined as a state or political subdivision that prohibits or restricts cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, including information sharing or compliance with detainer requests from the Department of Homeland Security. Under this legislation, sanctuary jurisdictions would become ineligible to receive federal SEAR funds, including those from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Operations Coordination and related grant programs. This ineligibility would take effect 30 days after notification by the Secretary of Homeland Security, unless the jurisdiction certifies its full compliance with federal immigration laws. Funds withheld due to this ineligibility would be reallocated to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for immigration enforcement efforts, with a priority on addressing public safety threats such as convicted criminal noncitizens, gang members, and individuals on terrorist watch lists, and at least 50 percent dedicated to border-related removals and enforcement operations. The Secretary of Homeland Security would also be required to submit semiannual reports to Congress detailing the funds withheld, reallocated, and the impact on enforcement outcomes and risk reduction at major events.
This bill aims to establish eligibility requirements for the use of federal funds designated for Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) support in jurisdictions deemed "sanctuary jurisdictions." A sanctuary jurisdiction is defined as a state or political subdivision that prohibits or restricts cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, including information sharing or compliance with detainer requests from the Department of Homeland Security. Under this legislation, sanctuary jurisdictions would become ineligible to receive federal SEAR funds, including those from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Operations Coordination and related grant programs. This ineligibility would take effect 30 days after notification by the Secretary of Homeland Security, unless the jurisdiction certifies its full compliance with federal immigration laws. Funds withheld due to this ineligibility would be reallocated to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for immigration enforcement efforts, with a priority on addressing public safety threats such as convicted criminal noncitizens, gang members, and individuals on terrorist watch lists, and at least 50 percent dedicated to border-related removals and enforcement operations. The Secretary of Homeland Security would also be required to submit semiannual reports to Congress detailing the funds withheld, reallocated, and the impact on enforcement outcomes and risk reduction at major events.