Grassley Defends Weaker Bill

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Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has introduced one of several bills being considered in Congress to crack down on so-called sanctuary cities, and Grassley thinks his is the most pragmatic.

The bill is similar to one that passed the House Thursday afternoon, sponsored by Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif.

Appearing on “The Laura Ingraham Show,” Grassley on Friday acknowledged his approach does not go as far as proposals made by Sens. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., and David Vitter, R-La.

Grassley, an Iowa Republican, told Laura Ingraham he would vote for both of those bills. But he defended what he called a pragmatic approach that takes into consideration the fact that most bills cannot reach the president’s desk without 60 votes.

“I can’t even guarantee you my bill would get 60 votes. But I’m trying to get something done (so) that we can have some victory,” he said.

Grassley’s bill would mandate local jurisdictions only honor federal holds on certain illegal immigrants.

“I would like to deprive these cities of some of their federal aid if I can,” Grassley said.

“I would like to deprive these cities of some of their federal aid if I can,” he said.

Grassley’s bill also would impose a five-year mandatory-minimum prison sentence for people who re-enter the country after deportation.

Grassley noted 121 Americans have been killed by previously deported illegal immigrants in the past five years.

With several proposals on the table to crack down on jurisdictions ignoring current immigration law, Grassley said, the biggest hurdle is a president who will not enforce laws he does not agree with.

“If you’ve got a president who isn’t going to faithfully execute the laws, then you’re in the same situation you are,” he said. “Sanctuary cities shouldn’t even exist. They are a violation of immigration law. But I don’t know what you can do if you have a president that doesn’t enforce the laws.”