I am writing to urge you to support and pass H.R. 7640, the Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act. Sanctuary jurisdictions across the country are releasing criminal aliens back into our communities by refusing to honor lawful ICE detainers, and Americans are paying the price.

Stephanie Minter paid that price. The 41-year-old single mother was stabbed to death at a bus stop in Fairfax County, Virginia, by an illegal alien who had been arrested in the county more than 30 times. Local police had warned the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office in writing — three separate times — that this man would harm or kill someone if his charges kept getting dropped. The warnings were ignored. The system that was supposed to protect Stephanie protected her killer instead.

What happened in Fairfax County is not an isolated tragedy, and Congress has known it for years. Sanctuary jurisdictions in cities and states across the country release criminal aliens back into our communities every day, in open defiance of federal immigration authority. Congress has had the power to stop this, and Congress has chosen not to use it. Every year of inaction has a body count, and Americans like Stephanie are paying it. That has to end.

H.R. 7640 would require state and local jurisdictions to honor ICE detainers, redirect federal law enforcement grants away from jurisdictions that obstruct that cooperation, protect officers who do cooperate from state retaliation, and give crime victims and their families a right of action against sanctuary jurisdictions when their policies enable preventable harm.

Cooperation between law enforcement agencies has always been the foundation of public safety, and the absence of that cooperation has cost American lives. Please support and pass H.R. 7640.

Greg Raven, Apple Valley, CA

Sent to:
Jay Obernolte