Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill on Monday prohibiting cities and counties from enacting “sanctuary” policies or ordinances for illegal aliens. In light of the horrific and devastating outcomes that sanctuary cities often produce, it is now that Kansas should be joined by other states. And the fact that Kansas isn’t a border state shows how deeply the border crisis is affecting the entire United States.
As of this week, no municipality in Kansas may restrict its police from cooperating with federal law enforcement or exchanging information about someone’s citizenship or immigration status. This decision overturns three sanctuary ordinances in Wyandotte County and Lawrence, as well as prevents local entities from enacting them.
Unfortunately, we’ve seen the way sanctuary policies play out, and it’s not pretty.
In sanctuary cities and other jurisdictions across the country OregonTo MarylandIllegal aliens are arrested and released. They reoffend and cause havoc in communities.
One report looking at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement records found that in one 8-month period, over 60% of aliens released in sanctuary jurisdictions had “serious prior criminal records,” including assault, drug trafficking, and sexual abuse of children, among other violent felonies and public safety threats.
It is not surprising that criminal aliens are able to re-enter the country and commit more crimes once they have been released. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has released informationReporting on the crimes, robberies and assaults committed by these aliens following their use of sanctuary policies.
Take, for instance, Jorge Luis Romero-ArriagaAfter being detained for rape of an infant, a Washington immigration detainer was not honored, he was released. He was later convicted of multiple other assaults. Or Rosalio Ramos-RamosHe was released and went on with a horrendous murder. Or Christian Octavio Parra Martin Gallo-GallardoThey were only allowed to murder their wives. There are many others. examplesThey are just as horrifying.
Except for the fact the Biden administration continues its defunding and discouragement of immigration enforcement, which is reducing resources, there are some positives.
In states or jurisdictionsWhen local police cooperate with federal authorities, there are hundreds of examplesA number of aliens convicted for serious offenses, such as drug trafficking, sexual assault, and homicide, are arrested and given to federal authorities. It’s safe to say that laws like the one Kansas just passed save lives.
As if helping to prevent violent crimes isn’t enough to support the Kansas bill and convince progressive officials that sanctuary ordinances were terrible policy, there are significant fiscal benefits to banning sanctuary city. It is important to lift the burden of illegal immigration from American taxpayers.
The Kansas bill is expected to save taxpayers millions each year. As of 2017, Kansas spentNearly $4,500 per illegal alien per annum between public benefits and education, as well as public safety and other public benefits. This adds up to nearly $377 million annually. For every 100 illegal aliens arrested and properly handed over to federal law enforcement, Kansas taxpayers will save nearly half a million dollars annually.
The state’s welcome anti-sanctuary legislation is the latest on a growing list. Kansas is not the first state to pass a bill like this—and it’s also not the first state far removed from the Southwest border to do so.
Over a dozen stateshave passed legislation that prohibits or severely discourages sanctuary policies. A bill similar to that passed in Kansas was signed into law in 2017. Texas. Even states as far north and northeast as MontanaPublic officials and supporters of the bill have banned sanctuary cities. They raised concerns about illegal aliens being moved to the state and criminal activity.
States are realizing the negative impacts of President Joe Biden’s weak border policies and wisely taking matters into their own hands.
With Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’s dangerous catch-and-release policies well underway and the administration flying illegal aliens all over the country, “every state in the country is now a border state.”
The administration also announced plans to end Title 42This was the first time since 2020 that this method was used to expel mostly unvaccinated aliens to control the spread of COVID-19. It was used in May. U.S. Customs and Border Protection estimateWith Title 42 enforcement ending, 18,000 illegal aliens could be flooding the Southern border each day. Every state will be affected.
Governors and state legislatures can—and should—pass laws now banning sanctuary policies as well as take all possible measuresLegal action to stop illegal immigration.
Kudos Kansas for upholding and supporting the law. Other states would be wise in following the lead of Kansas, given the Biden Border Crisis.
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