Assembly GOPers push crackdown on sanctuary cities
As the national debate over immigration intensified, Republicans in the New York State Assembly were pushing legislation aimed at cutting state funding to so-called sanctuary cities that harbor undocumented immigrants.
Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis (R-C-Bay Ridge-Staten Island) said she recently signed on to legislation sponsored by Assemblymember Dean Murray (R-C-Suffolk County) that would prohibit local governments from interfering with federal homeland security operations.
The GOP bill, known as the New Yorkers Combating Alien Recidivism and Ending Sanctuary (NY CARES) Act, seeks to prevent the existence of “sanctuary cities,” municipalities that Republicans said take steps to avoid cooperating with federal immigration officials.
The NY CARES Act would prohibit state funding to any county, city, town or village determined to be in willful violation of immigration laws. The local municipality would be obligated to provide proof of compliance to the New York state comptroller before any state funds are disbursed, Malliotakis said.