Wait, what? A state that actually cares about anti-illegal immigration laws? Can’t be.
Republican Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill, HB 200, into law on Wednesday that bans sanctuary cities in his state, nullifying any attempt by any town in Montana to protect illegal aliens and prevent cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“We are a nation of laws, and immigration laws will be enforced in Montana,” Gianforte told the Daily Caller. “Criminal, illegal aliens who pose public safety threats to our communities have no sanctuary in Montana.”
The bill states the following:
a state agency or local government may not enact, adopt, implement, enforce, or refer to the electorate a policy that prohibits or restricts a government entity, official, or employee from:
(a) sending to, receiving from, exchanging with, or maintaining for a federal, state, or local government entity information regarding a person's citizenship or immigration status for a lawful purpose;
(b) complying with a notification request concerning the release of an individual if the request is lawfully made by the United States department of homeland security acting pursuant to its authority under 8 U.S.C. 1226 and 1357 as those sections read on [the effective date of this act]; or
(c) complying with an immigration detainer request if:
(i) the request is lawfully made by the United States department of homeland security acting pursuant to its authority under 8 U.S.C. 1226 and 1357 as those sections read on [the effective date of this act]; and
(ii) the arrest is authorized under state law.
RELATED: Report Predicts Up to 184,000 Migrant Kids Will Illegally Cross the Border In FY2021
HB 200 was introduced on January 20 and was sponsored by state Rep. Kenneth L. Holmlund (R).
According to the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), there are 11 U.S. states considered “sanctuary states” — California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. There are also currently 29 U.S. states that have a total of 182 sanctuary cities or counties within them.
Obviously, Montana hasn’t been and won’t be one of them.