(The Center Square) – A number of state legislators across the U.S. commented on the importance of protecting American streets from noncitizen criminals in response to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and members of the state’s legislature’s actions have made to pass sanctuary bills.
Florida House Speaker-Designate Sam Garrison told The Center Square in an exclusive statement of the work his state has done to protect its residents.
“Florida has made clear that no criminal illegal immigrant will find refuge here and that law enforcement will always have the tools and the authority they need to protect our communities,” Garrison said.
“We have banned sanctuary cities, mandated E-Verify, and worked hand-in-hand with federal immigration authorities to ensure that individuals who have no legal right to be in this country, especially those with criminal records, are removed swiftly before they can harm our families,” Garrison said. “Florida is proof that when elected leaders prioritize public safety our communities thrive.”
As The Center Square reported, border agents in Tampa, Florida, recently made their 1,000th child sex offender arrest in four months.
Meanwhile, Texas Rep. AJ Louderback explained in an exclusive statement to The Center Square how “Texas has stood firm alongside President Trump and his administration to ensure that our communities are protected and our laws are enforced.”
“Through Operation Lone Star, full cooperation with federal immigration authorities, and tough-on-crime policies that hold repeat offenders accountable, Texas has demonstrated that strong borders and safe streets go hand in hand,” Louderback said.
“We have made it absolutely clear that Texas will never be a sanctuary city for those who break our laws, and our partnership with the Trump Administration has given law enforcement the resources and the backing they need to remove dangerous criminals before they can victimize another Texan,” Louderback said.
Hochul’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
California GOP Senate Leader Brian Jones bemoaned the sanctuary policies and other tactics his state has used to protect illegal alien criminals rather than citizens in an exclusive statement to The Center Square.
“Governor Newsom and Sacramento Democrats have spent years tying law enforcement’s hands through sanctuary city policies, blocking cooperation with federal agents, and allowing violent criminals to walk free instead of being deported,” Jones said.
“The ‘California Values Act’ has turned our state into a safe haven for violent offenders, and Californians are paying the price,” Jones said.
“While the governor plays politics and eyes a presidential bid, families across California are living with the real-world consequences of his reckless agenda on crime,” Jones said. “It’s time to restore law enforcement’s ability to work with federal immigration authorities, stop hamstringing our men and women in blue and put the safety of Californians first.”
As The Center Square previously reported, Hochul made plans to limit local cooperation with “federal immigration crackdowns,” prompting border czar Tom Holman to state he would “flood the zone” with ICE agents in New York if state lawmakers approve the governor’s plan.
