The Richland Township Republican on Thursday introduced House Resolution 19 to block state appropriations for local governments that shield illegal immigrants from federal immigration enforcement.
“I would like to see us use funding as a way to punish these sanctuary jurisdictions,” Hall told reporters Thursday. “Let me say it differently: I think it should be an incentive – increased funding beyond what’s constitutionally required is an incentive for things like working to have safer communities through complying with ICE and working and partnering with ICE.”
According to HR 19: “An appropriations bill or conference report shall not be brought for a vote if it contains a legislatively directed spending item for which the intended recipient is a municipality, including any official, department, or board of a municipality, that actively maintains any rule, policy, or ordinance that would subvert immigration enforcement in any way or that refuses to comply with federal immigration enforcement measures.”
Hall said the measure will soon be taken up in committee, and he’s confident it will gain approval, Bridge Michigan reports.
“Any community that refuses to cooperate with federal immigration officials should expect the same cold shoulder from state government come budget time,” state Rep. John Roth, R-Interlochen, said in a statement Thursday.
“The feds are trying to keep our communities safe, and these rogue cities are doing whatever they can to protect these violent criminals and let them right back out onto our streets,” he said. “Speaker Hall took a stand today and made it clear that any community that prioritizes illegal immigrants over its own citizens will have their access to state funding cut off at the source.”
