Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) introduced a bill last week that penalizes sanctuary jurisdictions that don’t comply with federal immigration laws.
The No Community Development Block Grants for Sanctuary Cities Act says sanctuary jurisdictions will not receive federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers this grant. The grant money is allocated to support housing, infrastructure, and economic development in local communities.
“Cities that encourage illegal immigration shouldn’t be rewarded with federal housing subsidies,” said Senator Hagerty. “The Trump administration has made it clear that illegal immigration will not be tolerated anywhere in the United States, and cities that defy American sovereignty will face the consequences.
“I’m pleased to reintroduce this legislation that prevents taxpayer dollars from flowing to sanctuary cities that refuse to enforce the law,” he added.
Hagerty introduced this bill last session with then-Senator JD Vance (R-OH). This bill was never assigned to a Senate committee.
If this bill passes, Nashville could lose federal funds. In May, the federal government labeled Tennessee’s biggest city as a sanctuary jurisdiction. According to HUD records, Nashville received nearly $11 million in CDBG funds in Fiscal Year 2024.
In reaction to the designation, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell said he was “puzzled” by it.
Federal law enforcement has been active in Nashville recently. In May, almost 200 illegal immigrants were taken into custody.
After law enforcement made these arrests, O’Connell created a fund for illegal immigrants, which received seed funding from left-wing nonprofits.
Additionally, O’Connell issued an executive order requiring city employees to report interactions with federal immigration officials to his office.
Due to his actions, Congress launched an investigation into the mayor. O’Connell said he is “not particularly concerned” about the congressional investigation.
Another Tennessee city that could lose federal funds is Memphis. Last month, the federal government labeled Shelby County as a sanctuary jurisdiction. Memphis is located in this county.
Tennessee’s second-largest city received over $7 million in CDBG funds in Fiscal Year 2024.
In the House, Representative Ralph Northam introduced a companion bill.
Northam said that if a sanctuary jurisdiction ignores federal law, then it should not expect to receive “ a dime of federal tax dollars.”
“Sanctuary cities are putting politics over public safety, and that’s unacceptable. This bill makes clear that cities choosing to harbor illegal immigrants at the expense of public safety will no longer receive taxpayer money,” he said.
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at [email protected].
Background Photo “Nashville Skyline” by Jschnake. CC BY-SA 4.0.
I AM FOR THE BILL
NO SANCTUARY FOR ILLEGALS ALLOWED.
Common Sense
It is called “cause and effect”. Entities thumbing their noses at immigration law should be punished.