ICYMI: Acting ICE Director Thanks Senator Schmitt for Championing $350M ICE Fund to Arrest, Deport Criminal Illegal Aliens in Sanctuary Cities

The Secure America Act Included the Schmitt-Authored Provision to Give ICE Additional Resources to Protect American Communities U.S. SENATE — Following President Donald J. Trump’s signing of the Secure America Act , Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director David J. Venturella thanked Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) for championing a $350 million fund in the bill that will help ICE agents arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens in sanctuary cities. Acting ICE Director Venturella released the following statement on the initiative and Sen. Schmitt’s bold leadership: “The Secure America Act provides ICE with critical resources to strengthen immigration enforcement, enhance public safety and support our officers as they carry out the agency’s mission. We appreciate Senator Schmitt’s leadership in securing $350 million to help ICE address one of the most persistent challenges facing immigration enforcement and thank him for his commitment to ensuring our officers have the resources they need to protect American communities. “Sanctuary jurisdictions refuse to honor ICE detainers or coordinate safe transfers from local custody to federal custody. As a result, criminal illegal aliens who could have been transferred directly to ICE are instead released into our communities, forcing our officers to locate and arrest them in neighborhoods, businesses and other public locations. Taking custody of criminal illegal aliens in secure correctional environments is safer for everyone involved. It reduces the risk of flight, minimizes the potential for violence, and allows law enforcement to operate in a controlled setting rather than in an unpredictable public space. When jurisdictions refuse to cooperate, they force ICE to devote significant resources to tracking and locating criminal illegal aliens who were already in custody and could have been transferred safely and efficiently. “The funding from this legislation will help ICE increase its capacity to monitor releases and arrest removable criminal aliens when sanctuary jurisdictions refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. We look forward to using these resources to strengthen public safety, support our workforce, and advance the Secure America Act’s broader goals.” Read ICE’s full release HERE. Background: The Schmitt-authored Fund provides dedicated ICE resources for detainer management, release monitoring, custodial transfer, transportation, arrests, and detention connected to criminal aliens released from local custody. Senator Schmitt joined President Trump in the Oval Office for the signing of his provision and the Secure America Act. The Schmitt-authored Fund passed the Senate and the House as part of the reconciliation bill in early June. ###