Immigration Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on Sanctuary City Policies and the Opioid Fight

Washington, D.C. - On Thursday, February 15, 2018, at 9:00 a.m., the Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee will hold a hearing entitled “The Effect of Sanctuary City Policies on the Ability to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.” This hearing will examine the lack of cooperation between state and local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities.  The hearing will specifically focus on the opioid epidemic and how drug enforcement operations benefited from past communication with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  The recent increase in sanctuary city polices has limited this coordination and communication and has hampered local law enforcement agencies. Witnesses for the hearing are:

• Detective Nick Rogers, President, Denver Police Protective Association
• The Honorable A.J. Louderback, Sheriff, Jackson County, Texas Sheriff’s Office
• Ms. Jessica Vaughan, Director of Policy Studies, Center for Immigration Studies
• Professor Keith Humphreys, Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee Chairman Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho) issued the statements below in advance of this hearing. Chairman Goodlatte: “In recent years we have seen an increase in cities implementing sanctuary policies designed to prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from being able to effectively enforce federal law.  This week the Immigration Subcommittee will examine the effects these policies have on the ability of local law enforcement to combat opioid smuggling in American communities.  If we are to have any success in the fight against the opioid epidemic, federal, state, and local law enforcement must be able to coordinate in order to protect our citizens.” Subcommittee Chairman Labrador: “Sanctuary city policies make it more difficult for law enforcement to do its job. They prevent information sharing between federal and local law enforcement agencies and allow dangerous criminals back on the street.  I look forward to hearing from the committee’s witnesses about how sanctuary policies are negatively impacting law enforcement’s ability to respond to the opioid epidemic.” This hearing will take place in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building and will be webcast live at judiciary.house.gov. Camera crews wishing to cover must be congressionally credentialed and RSVP with the House Radio-TV Gallery at (202) 225-5214.