Washington, D.C.—Tonight the U.S. House approved an amendment offered by U.S. Reps. Steve King (IA-05) and John Campbell (CA-48) to help all levels of law enforcement work toward the same end and enforce federal immigration laws.

The amendment, as part of H.R. 5441, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2007, would not require new duties for state and local law enforcement officers, but would refuse federal funding for states and localities that have sanctuary policies to harbor illegal aliens. The amendment would help the federal government enforce current law that makes it illegal for state and local governments to prevent their police officers from sending information to, or receiving information from, federal enforcement authorities about the immigration status of foreign nationals that they encounter in the course of their police duties.

Oftentimes, local and state law enforcement will come across illegal aliens when apprehending criminals, but local rules prevent them from following federal law and reporting criminal illegal aliens to federal authorities.

“No police officer should be barred from contacting federal immigration authorities about a criminal alien suspect because their jurisdiction has a sanctuary policy that protects criminal illegal aliens,” said King. “Victims would not have to endure a violent or sexual crime by a criminal alien, who had already come in contact with local police, if those police officers had been allowed to do their jobs and contact federal authorities.”

“When sanctuary cities refuse to share information with federal officials, those cities jeopardize national security and the safety of citizens in other cities.  This amendment will help end this dangerous practice,” said Campbell. “I appreciate the hard work of Congressman King and the other members of Congress who joined in the effort to pass this amendment.”

H.R. 5441 will provide funds to strengthen border security, port security and increased cargo screening, and disaster preparedness based on the lessons of Hurricane Katrina.