“When liberal cities provide sanctuary for criminals, they deny safety for law-abiding citizens. If immigration law is ignored nationwide, almost anyone who enters the United States illegally could remain here for the rest of their life. Preventing cooperation between state and federal officials would make the chaos of Joe Biden’s wide-open borders permanent.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today spoke on the Senate Floor about Democrats’ radical demands that would turn every American city into a sanctuary city. Senator Barrasso also discussed how enforcing the law on the books, such as the Laken Riley Act, leads to safer communities.

Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso’s remarks.

Sen. Barrasso’s remarks:

“Yesterday, I was in the Oval Office with the President of the United States. President Trump signed into law five appropriations bills. As a result, 96 percent of our federal government is funded through the rest of the fiscal year. We accomplished all this through the normal appropriations process. This is how Congress is supposed to work. The Appropriations Committee, led by Senator Susan Collins of Maine, made it happen here in the United States Senate. This is a welcome change from how things were done during the previous majority.

“Today, Republicans continue to work to fully fund the last 4 percent of the government. That is the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security is charged with one of the federal government’s most basic duties. That is, to keep Americans safe. The Department of Homeland Security enforces our nation’s immigration laws. It oversees TSA agents. It directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It commands the United States Coast Guard. It protects our nation from cyber attacks. Republicans are ready to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security for the remainder of the fiscal year. We have been ready for weeks.

“Democrats are holding that funding hostage. Democrats have an unreasonable – and growing – list of demands. Democrats’ demands would undermine law enforcement. Democrats’ demands would make America less safe. One of Democrats’ most dangerous demands is for local police to ignore federal immigration law. Democrats in Congress and Democrats who run the big cities don’t want the law enforced. For years, the Democrats have been the party of defund the police. Democrats have taken it a step further. Now, they are the party of defund American security. They’ve proven it by their words and actions.

“This debate is about much more than federal funding. It is about whether federal law is enforced or ignored. It is about whether our communities are safe or not. 78 percent of Americans want to deport illegal immigrant criminals. Americans support more cooperation between local and federal officials. This applies specifically to deporting illegal immigrant criminals. Americans also say that local jails should transfer criminal illegal immigrants to federal officials.

“Let me point out that in today’s Washington Post… this morning, February 4, 2026, ‘Congress has its work cut out on DHS funding.’ They start a paragraph that says, ‘Something else Schumer says he wants is to put an end to roving patrols.’ Senator Schumer just spoke here on the Floor of the United States Senate. The Editorial said Democrat run cities should ‘hand over dangerous illegal immigrants in their jails instead of hiding behind sanctuary policies.’ Washington Post this morning advising the Democrats, and specifically Senator Schumer by name, that we need more cooperation, not less – which is what we’re getting from Democrat-run cities, in big Democrat bastions, and promoted by each and every one of the Democrats on the Floor of the United State Senate.

 “We need more cooperation. We’ve gotten it in places because of the law, and specifically the Laken Riley Act. Because of that law, DHS has detained an additional 20,000 illegal immigrants who otherwise would have been released back onto the streets of our communities. Clearly, when local officials cooperate with federal officers, the American people are safer.

By contrast, Senate Democrats want to enact sanctuary city policies on a national level. People in my home state hate the idea of sanctuary cities. Already, cities in dozens of Democrat-run states embrace sanctuary policies.

“Let me tell you what the liberal Governor of New York wants to do. She wants to make cooperating and coordinating with ICE illegal for the state of New York. We’ve seen who got elected Mayor of New York City. Now, the Governor is following right behind him. In Minnesota, the liberal Governor, the liberal Mayor of Minneapolis, and the liberal Attorney General openly encourage citizens to obstruct federal law. If Democrats had their way, every city in America would be a sanctuary city, and every city in America would be less safe.

“Here is why sanctuary cities are so dangerous for law enforcement and the entire public. In sanctuary cities, local officials refuse to transfer illegal immigrants – even convicted criminals – to federal law enforcement. These convicted criminals are often released from custody and back onto American streets. That means federal agents are forced to find these convicted criminals in the community instead of a secure pick up at local jails.

“Look at what is happening in New York City. Since last year, New York has released 7,000 illegal immigrant criminals instead of cooperating with federal officials. Last month, New York knowingly released a convicted sex offender. They did this instead of transferring him into federal custody, where he belongs. This criminal had already been deported before. Federal officials were prepared to arrest him. Local Democrats released him. That is what sanctuary policies do. They put criminals back on the streets of our cities. Not a single American is safer because of the sanctuary city polices Democrats are promoting.

“When liberal cities provide sanctuary for criminals, they deny safety for law-abiding citizens. If immigration law is ignored nationwide, almost anyone who enters the United States illegally could remain here for the rest of their life. Preventing cooperation between state and federal officials would make the chaos of Joe Biden’s wide-open borders permanent.

“Let me tell you how this applies to the debate over the funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats’ list of demands is a liberal wish list. Republicans will not accept any changes that make our communities less safe.

“Personally, I want to end sanctuary cities and sanctuary city policies completely. And so do many of my Republican colleagues. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has introduced a bill to stop state and local officials from interfering with federal immigration enforcement. It’s a simple, common-sense concept: cops should help cops keep our communities safe. The safest cities in America are those that cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. There is a clear cause-and-effect. Congress should encourage more cooperation nationwide, not less – which is what the Democrat want.

“Republicans welcome a debate about immigration enforcement. Republicans are for cooperation. Democrats are for chaos. Republicans are for enforcing the law. Democrats are for sanctuary cities, and once again side with illegal immigrant, while Republicans stand on the side of making America safe.”

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