WATCH: Padilla Dismantles Republicans’ Baseless Attacks on Sanctuary Cities

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, slammed Republicans' lies about sanctuary city policies during a Senate Budget Committee hearing. As Republicans try to falsely cast sanctuary cities as lawless, Padilla set the record straight that sanctuary policies simply affirm that immigration enforcement is the job of the federal government - not state and local authorities.

He emphasized that these laws do not prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and agents from arresting violent criminals in these cities once they are released from prison. Padilla stressed, however, that state and local authorities cannot be forced into performing these inherently federal responsibilities, diverting attention and resources away from critical public safety priorities for their communities.

• "[This hearing] is not about the federal budget, not about an economic outlook, but I understand why the Republican majority wouldn't want to talk about that. Not while gas prices are spiking because of an unauthorized war against Iran. Instead, we're here to discuss how off-base this whole sanctuary conversation really is."

• "Sanctuary policies simply affirm that immigration enforcement is the job of the federal government, and that the federal government cannot unilaterally decide to co-opt state and local authorities or their resources - precious resources - in carrying out these responsibilities."

• "It means carrying out immigration enforcement activities is ICE's purview, while respecting state and local law enforcement agencies to make decisions around how to focus and direct their limited resources that they deem best protects and serves their constituents."

Padilla underscored that the legality of sanctuary cities has repeatedly been upheld in court. Justice Scalia in Printz v. United States wrote, "The Federal Government may neither issue directives requiring the States to address particular problems, nor command the States' officers, or those of their political subdivisions, to administer or enforce a federal regulatory program." He also blasted the Trump Administration for using lies and misinformation about sanctuary policies to justify their cruel immigration enforcement campaign that has caused chaos in American cities and taken the lives of at least two citizens.

• "We can have disagreements on policy, but the fundamental misunderstanding about what sanctuary policies are has led to the promotion of enforcement actions across the country that have become damaging to our communities and to our local economies."

Padilla rebuked Congressional Republicans for supporting the Administration's blatant federal overreach that would limit local law enforcement's ability to investigate and prosecute serious other issues like human trafficking, violent crimes, and fentanyl offenses. He highlighted research that shows that cities with sanctuary policies have lower crime rates, higher median household income, less poverty, less reliance on public assistance, higher labor force participation, and lower unemployment.

• "It seems to me that this debate has not really been about public safety. Because if it were, we could also be talking about how the data shows that sanctuary policies actually make communities safer, healthier, and more prosperous."

Padilla concluded by calling for accountability and oversight over ICE and CBP officers and agents' lawless and reckless actions under President Trump. He urged Republicans to get serious about protecting public safety and stop lying about what sanctuary policies do.

• "Let's stop perpetuating the lies. Let's ensure that ICE and CBP agents are accountable and conduct their jobs in accordance with the law and the Constitution. Let's allow local law enforcement leaders to do what they deem is best for public safety."

Video of Senator Padilla's remarks is available here.

Last month, Senator Padilla blocked Senator Lindsay Graham's (R-S.C.) End Sanctuary Cities Act of 2026 that would have undermined sanctuary policies in California and across the country. During a spotlight forum last year, Padilla warned against the dangers of the Trump Administration's unprecedented withholding of federal funding over disagreements in immigration policy and stressed that punishing sanctuary cities threatens public safety by keeping immigrants from reporting crimes out of fear.

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