South OC Times

This week, Congressman Darrell Issa, in collaboration with Congressman Brandon Gill from Texas's 26th district, reintroduced the Sanctuary City Accountability Act (SCAA). This legislation aims to allow citizens harmed by sanctuary cities to hold these jurisdictions accountable for crimes committed by illegal immigrants who are shielded from law enforcement and released into communities. The bill provides victims and their immediate family members the right to sue sanctuary jurisdictions.

"For years, sanctuary cities have openly defied federal law and endangered the American people by not only shielding illegals from the consequences of their crimes but also ensuring they are allowed to remain free to victimize even more innocent Americans," stated Representative Issa. "It’s time to reset our system and put the law on the side of American citizens, not criminal illegals."

Additionally, Congressman Issa introduced the Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal (CLEAR) Act. This is a companion bill to legislation proposed by Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. The CLEAR Act is designed to enhance local law enforcement agencies' ability to combat illegal immigration.

The CLEAR Act proposes several measures:

- It grants local police officers authority to arrest, detain, and transfer illegal immigrants out of the United States.

- It mandates that the Department of Homeland Security share its list of illegal immigrants with deportation orders, visa overstays, and revoked visas with local police departments nationwide.

- It requires states and localities to report instances of illegal immigration to the federal government.

- It provides federal reimbursement to local law enforcement agencies for their work in immigration enforcement, aiming to minimize the financial burden on local taxpayers.

Further details can be found in the texts of both bills.