WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today commended the Department of Justice for filing a lawsuit against California state laws that interfere with federal immigration policies.

“This lawsuit is totally appropriate in order to protect the rule of law,” Wicker said. “Sanctuary city policies undermine public safety and threaten our national security. I commend President Trump and Attorney General Sessions for fighting back against California’s dangerous sanctuary city policies.”

In January, Wicker called on the Department of Justice to rescind federal law enforcement grants to the state of California if the state’s attorney general, Xavier Becerra, followed through on a threat to prosecute employers for helping federal immigration authorities detain illegal immigrants.

Wicker Works to End Sanctuary Cities

During the 115^th Congress, Wicker has supported and voted for a number of legislative measures to stop the practice of sanctuary cities.

For example, Wicker supports Sen. Joni Ernst’s “Sarah’s Law,” which would authorize mandatory detention of illegal aliens who kill or harm American citizens. In 2016, Nebraska-native Sarah Root was killed by a drunk driver illegally in the United States. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office declined to use its discretion to detain the individual. The criminal subsequently posted bond and disappeared. ICE acknowledged they should have detained the individual.

Wicker also backs Sen. Ted Cruz’s “Kate’s Law” to establish a five-year mandatory sentence for illegal immigrants who are convicted of an aggravated felony or repeatedly enter the country unlawfully. In 2015, 32-year-old Kate Steinle was shot to death by an illegal alien who had been deported five times and convicted of multiple felonies. Following Steinle’s death, local authorities released the illegal alien under San Francisco’s sanctuary city policies.

Another measure supported by Wicker is Sen. Chuck Grassley’s “Take Action Against Drunk Drivers” bill to require ICE to detain illegal immigrants charged with drunk driving offenses, and it would make habitual drunk drivers inadmissible and removable for immigration purposes.

Wicker has led multiple efforts to end sanctuary cities. In the 114th Congress, he cosponsored the “Protecting American Lives Act,” S.1842, aimed at closing the gaps in the federal government’s enforcement of immigration law, including ending sanctuary cities in America. Wicker also cosponsored “Kate’s Law,” the “Taking Action Against Drunk Drivers Act,” and the “Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act” in the 114th Congress. Prior to that, Wicker led a similar effort to deny federal funds and law enforcement grants to sanctuary cities.