WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) yesterday took to the Senate floor to call for immediate passage of his legislation that would abolish the practice of sanctuary cities and states once and for all. Unfortunately, Graham’s bill was blocked by Senator Alex Padilla (D-California) who argued sanctuary jurisdictions are not a problem for the country. 

Senator Graham has repeatedly asserted that sanctuary city policies are an underlying cause of illegal immigration as well as the unrest surrounding the enforcement of immigration laws by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). To remedy this situation, Graham’s legislation would impose criminal penalties on state and local officials who in defiance of the law refuse to turn over illegal immigrants to federal agents who have been charged with or convicted of a crime.

• On sanctuary cities being at the root of illegal immigration:
• “Until you change the policies, you never stop illegal immigration. If there are 12 states … that have sanctuary status, [illegal immigrants will] keep coming. All they got to do is get to one of these states. It’s magnets for future illegal immigration, it breaks down law and order, and it needs to stop.” https://youtu.be/8v3J9BAfTvs?si=E6Q3vV7u_GcidRaX&t=375
• On Graham’s proposal to prosecute defiant state and local officials:
• “I have legislation… [that] says if a state or local official does not turn over to the federal government an illegal immigrant who’s … been convicted or facing criminal charges, then that state or local official can go to jail. You have an obligation under federal law to turn these people over.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v3J9BAfTvs&t=267s

During his speech, Graham slammed his Democratic colleagues for their complicity in the invasion of the country by millions of illegal immigrants during the Biden Administration. He criticized them for refusing to acknowledge the victims of Biden’s open border policies, such as Laken Riley.

• On Democratic Senators’ responsibility for the Biden Border Crisis:
• “Every Democratic senator turned the other way during the four years of Biden. You didn’t do anything to bring reason to chaos. How many of you spoke about Laken Riley? … How many thousands of people have been raped and abused, stolen and mistreated because of this invasion of illegal immigrants from virtually all over the world?... You never talk about the victims, [you] just want to talk about TV and Minnesota.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v3J9BAfTvs&t=214s
• “If you want to have immigration policed, our Democratic friends will never be there for you. They turned their back on you and your family and allowed this nation to be invaded by 10, 15, 20 million people. Who the hell knows?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v3J9BAfTvs&t=356s

After Senator Padilla moved to stop Senator Graham’s legislation from advancing, Graham reiterated his tenacity on this issue. He has refused to back down and remains persistent in his effort to permanently end the practices observed in sanctuary jurisdictions.

• On Graham’s commitment to fully halt the policies of sanctuary cities and states:
• “No matter how this ends, I am going to stay on this til I can’t stay on it anymore. I want a simple vote as a United States senator to have a debate as to whether or not sanctuary city policy … is bad for America or good for America. I think it’s terrible for America. And those engaging sanctuary city practices, you’re hurting the other 38 states, you’re creating chaos for your country and you should be held accountable.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v3J9BAfTvs&t=1115s

Click here to watch Graham’s full remarks

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