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Topics in the News: Sanctuary Cities


Tim Walz on Civil Rights : Aug 6, 2024
Added religious-liberty protections to human-rights statutes

The Democratic governor issued executive orders establishing Minnesota as a "sanctuary state" for out-of-staters seeking transgender medical procedures. He has also signed legislation that bans so-called "conversion therapy" and made it illegal to remove books from libraries because they contain LGBTQ themes.

[A Republican] state lawmaker was critical of Walz for failing to criticize 2023 state legislation that sought to give people identifying as transgender protected status without guaranteeing religious-liberty exemptions.

This year, Walz approved new legislation that added religious-liberty protections to Minnesota's human-rights statutes, a measure that was strongly supported by the state's Catholic bishops.

Click for Tim Walz on other issues.   Source: National Catholic Register: 2024 Vice Presidential hopefuls

Ron DeSantis on Immigration : Jan 16, 2024
Shipping migrants to Martha's Vineyard made it a news issue

Q: How do tactics such as rounding up illegal immigrants and shipping them to Martha's Vineyard bring the nation together to discuss comprehensive immigration reform? Wasn't that a little more than a cheap political stunt?

DeSANTIS: If you go back to September 2022, how was the border being treated? It was not at front-burner issue. The problems were real, but it wasn't getting the type of scrutiny that it needed. Martha's Vineyard said they were sanctuary jurisdiction. They said "all people are welcome, whether they're legal or not." These border towns in Texas are getting thousands and thousands. Martha's Vineyard couldn't even handle 50. But this was something that the media really glommed onto. So it ended up raising the temperature on this, and now you have this being discussed everywhere. So I don't think it was cheap at all. We banned sanctuary cities in Florida. As president, I'm not going to allow sanctuary states or sanctuary cities in this country. They're violating the law.

Click for Ron DeSantis on other issues.   Source: CNN Town Hall: interviews of 2024 presidential candidates

Nikki Haley on Crime : Jan 10, 2024
Law and order in our cities by empowering law enforcement

Q: What would you do about violent crime rates remaining high?

HALEY: What I would do is, first of all, defund sanctuary cities. It's hugely important that we do that. That's where we're seeing a lot of crime. But the second thing is, our law enforcement is demoralized right now. Because if they go and they arrest someone for having a stolen gun, it's demoralizing when they go through all that effort, put their lives at risk, and then you turn around and let that criminal go the very next day. Prosecutors need to prosecute according to the law and we've got to start holding them accountable. When we bring law and order back to our cities, then that's when they'll be safe. You don't do it by defunding the police, and you don't do it by just praising the police. You do it by having their backs. We have to get these stolen guns and drugs off the street. And the only way we can do that is when we empower law enforcement.

Click for Nikki Haley on other issues.   Source: CNN 2024 pre-Iowa caucus one-on-one debate

Ron DeSantis on Immigration : Jan 9, 2024
Every state now a border state--Florida is fighting back!

Since President Biden won't stop the flow of illegal immigrants and dangerous drugs across the border, Florida has been forced to pick up the slack. We've now sent over 100 Florida State Troopers and dozens of FWC officers to help Texas with border operations, banned sanctuary cities, and instituted policies to deter illegal immigration into our state. The Biden Border Crisis has made every state a border state--and Florida is fighting back!
Click for Ron DeSantis on other issues.   Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Idaho legislature

Nikki Haley on Drugs : Nov 8, 2023
We'll send special operations in to take out drug cartels

Nikki Haley: We'll send special operations in to take out the cartels. We need to go to where they're distributing it, where the supply centers are and take them out. We'll put 25,000 more Border Patrol and ICE agents on the ground and let them do their job. We will defund sanctuary cities. We will go back to the Remain in Mexico policy so that everybody stays in Mexico and they never get here in the first place.
Click for Nikki Haley on other issues.   Source: NBC News 2023 Republican primary debate in Miami

Nikki Haley on Immigration : Jun 4, 2023
We will defund sanctuary cities once and for all

We did a mandatory E-Verify program that made businesses prove that the people they hired were here legally. We will do a national E- Verify program. We will defund sanctuary cities once and for all. We will stop giving the hundreds of billions of dollars of handouts to illegal immigrants. We will go back to remain in Mexico because guess what, nobody wants to remain in Mexico. We will keep the provisions of Title 42. And instead of catch and release, we will go to catch and deport.
Click for Nikki Haley on other issues.   Source: CNN Town Hall: interviews of 2024 presidential candidates

Tim Scott on Crime : May 22, 2023
Increase penalties for targeting law enforcement officers

Click for Tim Scott on other issues.   Source: 2024 Presidential campaign website VoteTimScott.com

Nikki Haley on Immigration : May 14, 2023
Instead of catch and release, let's go to catch and deport

This is a crisis created by Republicans and Democrats. This very much should have been dealt with a long time ago and it wasn't. What I would do is first of all do the mandatory e-verify. I would defund sanctuary cities. I would go back to remain in Mexico because no one wants to remain in Mexico. I would fire the 87,000 IRS agents that are going after Middle America and put 25,000 Border Patrol and ICE agents on the ground. And instead of catch and release, let's go to catch and deport.
Click for Nikki Haley on other issues.   Source: CBS Face the Nation on 2023 Presidential hopefuls

Donald Trump on Immigration : Apr 1, 2023
No federal grants for police in sanctuary cities

During the Trump Administration, a condition added to grants stated that an awardee had to comply with all federal law (stock language), including federal law regarding the exchange of information between federal and local authorities about an individual's immigration status. This condition prevented law enforcement in "sanctuary cities" from receiving grant awards. While the Trump Administration suffered a series of [setbacks, the courts] upheld the authority to impose these conditions.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.   Source: Project 2025, by the Heritage Foundation, p.566

Vivek Ramaswamy on Principles & Values : Mar 12, 2023
Capitalism has to stay apolitical to bring us together

I think that it's inherently divisive to tell us that we're nothing more than the characteristics we inherit on the day we're born. That divides us on the basis of race and sex and sexual orientation.

And then, when that merges with capitalism, we lose the apolitical sanctuary in our economy, that otherwise brings us together, whether we're black or white, even whether we're Democrat or Republican. That's one of the underappreciated reasons why capitalism has to stay apolitical.

Click for Vivek Ramaswamy on other issues.   Source: CNN interviews on 2023 Presidential hopefuls

Ron DeSantis on Crime : Mar 7, 2023
Increase penalties for fentanyl dealers, human smuggling

We need to increase penalties for fentanyl dealers, especially those who target our children. And to do that we must treat them like the murderers that they are. We must further strengthen our laws against illegal immigration by enhancing employment verification, increasing penalties for human smuggling and further disincentivizing illegal immigration to the state of Florida. Florida is not a sanctuary state and we will uphold the rule of law.
Click for Ron DeSantis on other issues.   Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Florida legislature

JD Vance on Immigration : Nov 1, 2022
Secure OUR border, instead of foreign borders

Q: The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.

A: Strongly Agree. If we spent as much time concerned about securing our borders as much as we do securing the borders of other countries, we would be a much safer and prosperous country.

Q: State and federal funds shall be denied to any public or private entity, such as a sanctuary city, that is not in compliance with immigration laws.

A: Strongly Agree

Q: Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?

A: Legal immigration should happen based on merit and skills, not family relationships as it currently is. I support the Raise Act, which would change our legal immigration system to put our citizens first.

Click for JD Vance on other issues.   Source: American Family Association 2022 iVoterGuide

Ron DeSantis on Immigration : Jan 11, 2022
Re-route illegal aliens in Florida to sanctuary states

As a state, we cannot be a party to what is effectively a massive human smuggling operation run by the federal government. Companies who are facilitating the movement of illegal aliens from the southern border to Florida should be held accountable, including by paying restitution to the state for all the costs they are imposing on our communities. I am also requesting funds so that when the feds dump illegal aliens in Florida, the state can re-route them to states that have sanctuary policies.
Click for Ron DeSantis on other issues.   Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Idaho legislature

Bernie Sanders on Immigration : Mar 15, 2020
End ICE raids; they terrify kids of immigrants

Q: Vice President Biden, you opposed sanctuary cities as a Presidential candidate in 2007, where do you stand now? Should undocumented immigrants arrested by local police be turned over to immigration officials?

Joe Biden: No.

Q: Senator Sanders?

Bernie Sanders: Of course not. When you have that process, [there's] psychological terror, and I've talked to these kids, kids are scared to death in America when they come home from school that their mom or dad may not be there, may be deported. What we need to do is to end, and I will end this on day one, the ICE raids that have been so harmful to so many people. I'm the son of an immigrant. This is a country significantly built by immigrant labor, built by slave labor and what we have got to do is appreciate each other and end this demonization and the divisiveness this coming from the Trump administration.

Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.   Source: 11th Democratic primary debate (Biden-Sanders one-on-one)

Ron DeSantis on Immigration : Mar 5, 2019
No sanctuary cities in Florida

Florida will not be a sanctuary state - we won't allow someone here illegally to commit criminal misconduct and simply be returned to our communities. And we won't tolerate sanctuary cities that actively frustrate law enforcement by shielding criminal aliens from accountability at the expense of public safety. Let's prohibit sanctuary cities in Florida.
Click for Ron DeSantis on other issues.   Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Florida legislature

Kamala Harris on Families & Children : Jan 8, 2019
Sanctuary for prostituted youth so they can escape pimps

[In San Francisco in 2000] one of our priorities was creating a safe place for prostituted youth to get love and support and treatment. I knew from years of experience that the survivors we were trying to help usually had nowhere to go. People often wondered why it was that exploited kids picked up by the police would go right back to the pimps who "took care of them." It didn't seem so strange to me--where else were these kids able to turn?

Our task force proposed establishing a safe house for sexually exploited youth--a sanctuary that would offer substance abuse and mental health treatment; the resources needed to get back to school; and a network of support to keep vulnerable young people safe, healthy, and on track. We advocated for funding to create the safe house as well as to run a public education campaign.

To our delight, the board of supervisors adopted and funded our recommendations. We were able to rescue scores of runaways within the first couple of years.

Click for Kamala Harris on other issues.   Source: The Truths We Hold, by Kamala Harris, p.35-6

Ron DeSantis on Immigration : Oct 9, 2018
DACA is unconstitutional; opposes any path to citizenship

Q: Support path to citizenship for America's 11 million illegal immigrants, including "DACA" recipients or "Dreamers," who grew up in the US after being brought here as children?

Ron DeSantis (R): No. Considers DACA unconstitutional. Opposes any path to citizenship. DACA "amnesty" would further incentivize illegal immigration & chain migration. Fire officials who abet sanctuary cities.

Andrew Gillum (D): Yes. Can protect national security "without criminalizing" undocumented people.

Click for Ron DeSantis on other issues.   Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Florida Governor race

Ron DeSantis on Immigration : Aug 31, 2018
Supports E-Verify; opposes sanctuary cities

DeSantis fully backs President Donald Trump's moves to enforce border security and deport illegal immigrants. As governor, DeSantis has promised to ban "sanctuary cities" even though virtually no city in Florida has such policies. West Palm Beach was on a list of cities identified by the Trump administration as possibly having policies of non-cooperation with federal immigration officials, but elected officials there dispute that, saying they cooperate with federal authorities when asked.

Alachua and Clay counties have been accused of being sanctuary areas for not complying with detention requests in some instances, but those claims are disputed as well.

DeSantis also wants to enact an E-Verify law requiring employers to check the immigration status of their workers. It's an idea Gov. Rick Scott pushed in his first year in office but quickly dropped when it failed to get through the Legislature.

Click for Ron DeSantis on other issues.   Source: Orlando Sentinel on 2018 Florida gubernatorial race

Mike Pence on Immigration : Oct 4, 2016
End sanctuary cities; those policies drive wages down

Q: What would you tell the millions of undocumented immigrants who have not committed violent crimes?

A: Trump has laid out a plan to end illegal immigration once and for all in this country. We've been talking it to death for 20 years. Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine want to continue the policies of open borders, amnesty, catch and release, sanctuary cities--all the things that are are driving wages down in this country, and also too often with criminal aliens in the country, it's bringing heartbreak. But Trump has a plan that he laid out in Arizona, that will deal systemically with illegal immigration, beginning with border security, internal enforcement. Trump has laid out a priority to remove criminal aliens, remove people that have overstayed their visas. Once we have accomplished all of that, which will strengthen our economy, strengthen the rule of law in the country and make our communities safer once the criminal aliens are out, then we'll deal with those that remain.

Click for Mike Pence on other issues.   Source: 2016 Vice-Presidential Debate at Longwood University

Donald Trump on Immigration : Aug 31, 2016
10-point plan: wall; zero tolerance; biometrics; E-Verify

  1. We will build a great wall along the southern border. And Mexico will pay for it.
  2. We are going to end catch and release.
  3. Zero tolerance for criminal aliens. Zero. They don't come in here. We're going to triple the number of ICE deportation officers. We're also going to hire 5,000 more Border Patrol agents.
  4. Block funding for sanctuary cities. No more funds.
  5. Cancel unconstitutional executive orders and enforce all immigration laws.
  6. Suspend issuance of visas to any place where adequate screening cannot occur.
  7. Ensure that other countries take their people back when they are deported.
  8. We will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system which we need desperately. The politicians are all talk, no action, never happens.
  9. Turn off the jobs and benefits magnet. We will ensure that E-Verify is used to the fullest extent possible under existing law.
  10. Reform legal immigration to serve the best interests of America and its workers.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.   Source: Ballotpedia.org on Campaign speech in Phoenix Arizona

Donald Trump on Immigration : Nov 3, 2015
Cut off federal funds to sanctuary cities

We have to cut off federal grants to sanctuary cities--those places that refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement and actually abet criminal behavior--we have to end them. I repeat, we either are a nation of laws or we're not.

We also need to do what is necessary to enforce our visa regulations. People get a visa and come here legally, and when that visa expires, many stay here illegally. If they get caught, nothing happens to them. That's got to change.

Click for Donald Trump on other issues.   Source: Crippled America, by Donald Trump, p. 27

Joe Biden on War & Peace : Oct 1, 2008
2002: Waiting to be sure of Saddam danger could be too late

"Almost no one disagrees with these basic facts. That he has weapons of mass destruction and that he is doing everything in his power to get nuclear weapons."
--Sen. John Edwards, Sept. 12, 2002

"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al-Qaeda members."
--Sen. Hillary Clinton, Oct. 10, 2002

"Saddam Hussein certainly has chemical and biological weapons. There's no question about that."
--Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Nov. 17, 2002

"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction."
--Sen. Edward Kennedy, Sept. 27, 2003

"If we wait for the danger to become clear, it could be too late."
--Sen. Joseph Biden, Sept. 4, 2002

Click for Joe Biden on other issues.   Source: The War in Quotes, by G.B. Trudeau, p. 28-29

Joe Biden on Immigration : Sep 6, 2007
Sanctuary cities exist because feds can't enforce their laws

Q: Would you allow "sanctuary cities" to ignore the federal law and provide sanctuary to these immigrants?

A: The reason that cities ignore the federal law is the fact that there is no funding at the federal level to provide for the kind of enforcement at the federal level you need. This administration's been fundamentally derelict in not funding any of the requirements that are needed even to enforce the existing law.

Q: So would you allow those cities to ignore the federal law?

A: No.

Click for Joe Biden on other issues.   Source: 2007 Democratic primary debate at Dartmouth College

  • Additional quotations related to Sanctuary Cities issues can be found under Immigration.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Immigration.
Candidates on Immigration:


2024 Presidential primary contenders:
Gov.Doug Burgum (R-ND)
Gov.Chris Christie (R-NJ)
Gov.Ron DeSantis (R-FL)
Larry Elder (R-CA)
Rep.Will Hurd (R-FL)
Gov.Nikki Haley (R-SC)
Gov.Asa Hutchinson (R-AR)
Perry Johnson (R-IL)
Mayor Steve Laffey (R-RI)
V.P.Mike Pence (R-IN)
Rep.Dean Phillips (D-MN)
Vivek Ramaswamy (R-)
Sen.Tim Scott (R-SC)
Secy.Corey Stapleton (R-MT)
Mayor Francis Suarez (R-FL)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
2024 Presidential Nominees:
Pres.Joe Biden (Democratic incumbent)
V.P.Kamala Harris (Democratic nominee)
Chase Oliver (Libertarian Party)
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (Independent)
Dr.Jill Stein (Green Party)
Pres.Donald Trump (Republican nominee)
Sen.JD Vance (Republican V.P. nominee)
Gov.Tim Walz (Democratic V.P. nominee)
Dr.Cornel West (People's Party)

2024 Presidential primary also-ran's or never-ran's:
Ryan Binkley (R-TX)
Howie Hawkins (Green Party)
Joe Maldonado (Libertarian Party)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (D-VT)
Kanye West (Birthday Party)
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China
Coronavirus Pandemic
Energy Independence
Gay Rights
Global Warming
Illegal Immigrants
Israel/Palestine
North Korea
ObamaCare
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Supreme Court
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