Attorney General Jeff Sessions has notified sanctuary cities they will no longer be eligible for certain federal grants.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) website posted the new immigration compliance information on Tuesday, regarding the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Programs (“Byrne JAG”).
“Recipients for FY 2017 will be notified of new conditions of their grants that will increase information sharing between federal, state, and local law enforcement, ensuring that federal immigration authorities have the information they need to enforce immigration laws and keep our communities safe,” the website says.
"So-called 'sanctuary' policies make all of us less safe because they intentionally undermine our laws and protect illegal aliens who have committed crimes,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement.
“These policies also encourage illegal immigration and even human trafficking by perpetuating the lie that in certain cities, illegal aliens can live outside the law. This can have tragic consequences, like the 10 deaths we saw in San Antonio this weekend.”
“As part of accomplishing the Department of Justice's top priority of reducing violent crime, we must encourage these 'sanctuary' jurisdictions to change their policies and partner with federal law enforcement to remove criminals. From now on, the Department will only provide Byrne JAG grants to cities and states that comply with federal law, allow federal immigration access to detention facilities, and provide 48 hours notice before they release an illegal alien wanted by federal authorities,” according to Sessions.
$263,682,023 in grant money was awarded to states and localities through the Byrne JAG program in fiscal 2016.