Andy Biggs Decries Sanctuary Policies in Markup Hearing

Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) criticized sanctuary policies during a House Judiciary Committee markup of the Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act.

The bill prohibits state and local authorities from refusing to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and withholds federal funding from cities or states that refuse to comply.

In his comments, Rep. Biggs described several instances where convicted illegal alien criminals were released by recalcitrant state and local authorities despite having ICE detainers.

"These are not hypotheticals," Rep. Biggs warned. "Those things really happened, and many of these stories have tragic endings, and that is the reality of sanctuary policies."

He refuted Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN), who, while expressing sympathy for Angel Families, said their lost loved ones were statistically more likely to be harmed by U.S. citizens than illegal aliens. In response, Rep. Biggs called his remarks "asinine" and a "crazy attempt at logic," naming well-known victims of illegal alien crime such as Laken Riley, Rachel Morin, Jocelyn Nungaray, and others.

"This is a small sample of all the victims killed by criminal illegal aliens who never should have been in this country," the Arizona congressman said. "The radical left has made it clear that they do not care about protecting U.S. citizens. They are interested in protecting illegal aliens."

Biggs cited statistics showing that state and local authorities declined over 25,000 ICE detainers between October 2022 and early 2025, even if those released were charged with rape, murder, and other serious criminal activity.

"These are not policy disagreements," he emphasized. "These are public safety failures. These are bad policy failures. These are bad leadership," further noting that "more than 200 sanctuary jurisdictions openly defy federal law. They nullify federal authority and practice while demanding federal funding. In return, there is no obligation for the federal government to continue funding these sanctuary jurisdictions."