Two bills aimed at cracking down on sanctuary cities passed the U.S. House of Representatives this week, both drawing support from a handful of Democrats despite opposition from House Democratic leadership.

On Thursday, the House approved legislation requiring the Small Business Administration (SBA) to relocate its offices from jurisdictions identified as sanctuary cities.

Today, the House passed the Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act. Sanctuary city mayors should be held accountable for refusing to abide by the law and putting American lives at risk.

House Republicans are ensuring that @SBAgov employees are not victims of violent illegal aliens.… pic.twitter.com/bje0kb6LEv

— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) June 5, 2025

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The bill passed by a 211–199 vote. Five Democrats joined Republicans in voting for the measure: Henry Cuellar of Texas, Laura Gillen of New York, Don Davis of North Carolina, Jared Golden of Maine, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.

The bill mandates that regional, district, and local SBA offices be moved out of areas that the administration publicly designates as sanctuary jurisdictions.

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Sanctuary cities are localities that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, often by refusing to hold illegal immigrants for federal authorities or by enacting policies restricting such cooperation.

“House Republicans are holding these cities accountable for their refusal to follow immigration law and protect their citizens,” said House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“Under President Trump, lawlessness that endangers the American people and prioritizes illegal aliens will not be rewarded with federal dollars and resources.”

House Democratic leaders reportedly urged their caucus to vote against the bill, though five members crossed party lines to support it.

On Friday morning, the House passed a second bill, this one adding specific language to existing law that prohibits individuals in the U.S. illegally from receiving loans through the SBA.

“This is about putting American small business owners first, while ensuring lawless sanctuary cities do not reap the benefits of hosting SBA offices.” – @RepMarkAlford

The Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act, introduced by @RepFinstad, will relocate SBA offices into cities that… pic.twitter.com/Nem7uRj0h2

— House Committee on Small Business (@HouseSmallBiz) June 5, 2025

That measure passed with the support of eight Democrats: Cuellar, Gillen, Davis, Perez, Tom Suozzi of New York, Josh Harder of California, Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, and Kristen McDonald Rivet of Michigan.

House Democratic leadership did not issue formal guidance on how members should vote on this legislation.

The Trump administration welcomed the bipartisan votes on both bills. SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler praised lawmakers for acting in line with the administration’s immigration agenda.

“By harboring criminal illegal aliens, sanctuary cities jeopardize both the lives of American citizens and the livelihoods of our small businesses — which is exactly why the SBA is moving our field offices out of these lawless jurisdictions and into safer, more accessible communities that comply with federal law,” Loeffler told Fox News Digital.

“This Administration is committed to ending the illegal invasion of our nation – and I am grateful for the bipartisan group of House lawmakers who voted in support of that agenda.”

Today, I’m announcing that SBA will relocate our regional offices OUT of sanctuary cities – and implement new citizenship verification for loans, to ensure ZERO taxpayer dollars go to support illegal aliens.

The SBA is putting American citizens – and small businesses – first! pic.twitter.com/pdzOJb4Hub

— Kelly Loeffler (@SBA_Kelly) March 6, 2025

The two bills highlight the continued political importance of illegal immigration, an issue that helped propel Republicans to victories in the House, Senate, and White House in the 2024 elections.

The legislation to relocate SBA offices was introduced by Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minn., while the bill to bar SBA loans from being distributed to illegal immigrants was authored by Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas.

Both lawmakers have backed previous efforts to tie federal funding to compliance with immigration enforcement.

The bills now head to the Senate, where their prospects remain uncertain.

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