House Republicans continued to take aim at self-rule in the District of Columbia on Tuesday, advancing a bill meant to block it from being a so-called sanctuary city.
The bill, approved by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on party lines, would prevent D.C. from having any policy that would restrict officials from sharing information about a person’s immigration status with the Department of Homeland Security or from complying with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer request. The bill would provide an exception for individuals coming forward as a victim or witness to a crime.
“Our nation’s capital should not reflect a refusal — in fact, a mandated denial — of compliance with federal immigration law,” said Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana, the bill’s sponsor.
