No Community Development Block Grants for Sanctuary Cities Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2060
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-12: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T21:31:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to prevent states or local governments designated as "sanctuary jurisdictions"—those with policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement—from receiving federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). These grants fund housing, community development, and economic opportunities at the local level.
Key Provisions
- Definition of Sanctuary Jurisdiction: Adds a new term to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. A sanctuary jurisdiction is any state or local government with a law, rule, policy, or practice that blocks or limits:
- Sharing information about an individual's citizenship or immigration status (legal or illegal) with federal, state, or local authorities.
- Following lawful requests from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the Immigration and Nationality Act (sections 236 or 287) to detain or notify about the release of individuals.
- Exception to the Definition: A jurisdiction is not considered a sanctuary if its policy only protects individuals who come forward as victims or witnesses in criminal cases from information-sharing or detainer compliance.
- Grant Ineligibility: Requires that recipients of CDBG funds certify they are not a sanctuary jurisdiction and will not become one during the grant period.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 102(a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302(a)) by inserting the new definition of "sanctuary jurisdiction."
- Modifies Section 104(b) (42 U.S.C. 5304(b)) by adding a new eligibility requirement (as paragraph (6)), making non-sanctuary status a condition for receiving grants. This builds on existing grant criteria, such as fair housing compliance.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which administers CDBG, would need to verify recipients' sanctuary status, potentially increasing administrative burdens and enforcement actions.
- On Citizens: Residents in sanctuary jurisdictions could lose access to federal funds for affordable housing, infrastructure, and anti-poverty programs, affecting low-income communities, urban revitalization, and economic development.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly influence U.S. immigration policy perceptions abroad by tying local funding to federal enforcement cooperation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Local and State Governments: Sanctuary jurisdictions (e.g., certain cities or states with protective immigration policies) face funding cuts, pressuring policy changes.
- Federal Agencies: DHS and HUD, as the former's requests trigger the definition and the latter enforces grant rules.
- Immigrant Communities: Undocumented or mixed-status families in affected areas may experience reduced community services, though the victim/witness exception offers some protection.
- General Public: Taxpayers and residents relying on CDBG-funded projects, such as neighborhood improvements or job training.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Could lead to lawsuits over federal funding conditions, testing limits on Congress's spending power to influence state/local policies (a "strings attached" approach to grants).
- Constitutional: Raises questions under the 10th Amendment (states' rights) and anti-commandeering doctrine, which prevents the federal government from forcing local officials to enforce federal laws; courts may scrutinize if this impermissibly coerces compliance.
- Political: Highlights tensions in immigration debates, potentially incentivizing jurisdictions to end sanctuary policies to secure funds, while sparking opposition from advocates for local autonomy and immigrant rights.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-12: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- 2025-06-12: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- No Community Development Block Grants for Sanctuary Cities Act — issued 2025-06-12 — PDF (3 pages)