WASHINGTON, D.C. –  At the U.S. southern border, illegal immigration is down sharply. Domestically, arrests of convicted criminal aliens are up 20 percent. This year, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents have removed more foreign gang members than in all of 2016.

    Today, Congressman Scott DesJarlais, M.D., voted for legislation to supplement President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement. He voted for Kate’s Law to strengthen penalties on deported aliens who return to the U.S. and the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, which would defund cities like San Francisco, where the local government refuses to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

     “Unfortunately, in my home state of Tennessee, the city of Nashville is considering the same dangerous policy,” said Rep. DesJarlais (TN-04). “Sanctuary cities encourage illegal immigration across the southern border, where most deadly narcotics enter the country, as well as criminal gangs that transport them.”

     “They offer refuge to drug traffickers and violent criminals like the one who murdered Kate Steinle in San Francisco. With Nashville’s murder rate almost double what it was last year, and a drug epidemic plaguing Tennessee, the city council’s proposal to harbor illegal aliens – far from the humane idea its supporters describe – is reckless.”

    The council, under pressure, will likely withdraw the controversial bill. Today’s No Sanctuary law would redirect Department of Justice funds to state and local governments whose law enforcement agencies comply with federal detainer and immigration-related requests.

    It includes a provision requiring the Department of Homeland Security to jail until deportation criminal aliens convicted of serious crimes. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court allowed President Trump’s temporary ban on travel from certain terror-prone countries to move forward “another victory for strong borders and national security,” said Rep. DesJarlais.

    “The federal government’s first duty is to protect U.S. citizens. I’m working with our great law enforcement agencies to keep terrorists and transnational gangs like MS-13 out of the United States. ”

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