A new bill from Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) would require states to pay back the federal government if U.S. military resources were used in response to “civil disturbances” triggered by a state’s “refusal to cooperate with lawful Federal immigration enforcement.”
The bill, which was first shared with The Daily Wire, was filed Wednesday in response to violent rioting across parts of California last month over ICE raids. The unrest prompted President Donald Trump to send in thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines into Los Angeles to protect federal property and personnel.
“As lawless states like California obstruct the federal government’s work to enforce immigration law, American taxpayers in other states have been forced to foot the bill for the military forces required to quell the chaos and protect law-abiding citizens,” Blackburn told The Daily Wire. “If a state refuses to do its job and forces the federal government to respond to unrest, they should pay for it.”
Blackburn added that her bill, called the “State Accountability for Federal Deployment Costs Act,” would “send a message that refusing to comply with federal immigration law will not be tolerated.”
A companion bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Jody Arrington (R-TX), the chair of the House Budget Committee.
“Sanctuary policies that obstruct federal law enforcement jeopardize communities and drain valuable resources – in fact, their very existence is a violation of the law,” Arrington told The Daily Wire. “It’s entirely unacceptable for states that refuse to enforce immigration laws to expect taxpayers in states like Texas and Tennessee to foot the bill when the consequences of their lawlessness results in federal action. I’m proud to team up with Senator Blackburn to ensure that states that break the law, pay the price.”
