No Community Development Block Grants for Sanctuary Cities Act
Summary
SB 2060, titled the No Community Development Block Grants for Sanctuary Cities Act, would make states and local governments ineligible for federal Community Development Block Grants if they are classified as “sanctuary jurisdictions.” The bill defines a sanctuary jurisdiction as a state or political subdivision that has laws, ordinances, policies, or practices limiting the sharing of immigration-status information with government entities or limiting compliance with certain Department of Homeland Security detainer or release-notification requests under sections 236 or 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The bill also creates an exception for jurisdictions that only decline to share information or comply with detainer requests involving individuals who come forward as victims of, or witnesses to, a criminal offense. In addition to defining the term, the bill amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to require grant recipients to certify that they are not sanctuary jurisdictions and will not become one during the grant period.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would amend Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to condition eligibility for Community Development Block Grants on compliance with federal immigration-enforcement cooperation standards. This would directly affect state and local governments that maintain sanctuary policies by making them ineligible for a major federal housing and community development funding stream, while preserving eligibility for jurisdictions with limited victim-and-witness-related noncooperation policies. The bill would also add a new statutory certification requirement for grantees and could pressure local governments to revise immigration-related policies to avoid losing federal funds.
Sentiment
There is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials, so the bill’s sentiment must be inferred from its structure and title. The measure appears to reflect a strong enforcement-oriented position on immigration and opposition to sanctuary policies, with the stated goal of using federal grant conditions to discourage noncooperation with federal immigration authorities. Because no transcripts or votes are available, there is no documented bipartisan support or opposition in the provided record.
Contention
The central point of contention is whether the federal government should tie community development funding to local cooperation with immigration enforcement. Supporters would likely view the bill as a way to ensure compliance with federal detainer and information-sharing requests, while opponents would likely argue that it coerces local governments, undermines sanctuary policies, and could discourage victims and witnesses from interacting with law enforcement. The bill’s explicit exception for victims and witnesses suggests an attempt to narrow that concern, but the broader definition of sanctuary jurisdiction remains the main source of dispute.