Tancredo win vote on withholding funds from sanctuary cities

Rocky Mountain News:

The U.S. House of Representatives this morning voted to withhold federal emergency services funding for "sanctuary cities" that protect illegal immigrants.

Anti-illegal immigration champion Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., sponsored the measure, which he says would apply to cities such as Denver and Boulder. He was elated by its passage, which stunned critics and supporters alike.

The Littleton Republican's amendment to the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill appears to have no language specifically defining a sanctuary city. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper has long disputed giving the city that label.

"The issue has come to fruition," Tancredo said by cell phone after the vote. "The people of the country really have spoken. It's a really good indicator of just how much closer to the people the House is than the Senate is."

The House passed the amendment, 234 to 189, with 50 Democrats voting in favor.

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The Homeland Security appropriations bill faces a vote tonight in the House, then later in the Senate. It must also be signed by the President before it becomes law.

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If the US is going to be serious about enforcing its immigration laws, it should not subsidize cities who try to thwart those laws. There may be some debate on what a sanctuary city is, but the legislation should give the Department of Homeland Security and ICE some leverage in dealing with cities like San Francisco which appears to say it is one.