- Press Release
PRESS BRIEFING: Community Leaders, Prosecutors, and Local Electeds Condemn HR 32, A Direct Attack on American Communities And Public Safety
Washington DC, February 26, 2025 — Community leaders and elected officials from across the nation joined a virtual press call today to condemn the upcoming HR 32, or “No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act,” vote—a measure that would allow the Trump Administration to devastate communities by cutting vital funding for essential public services or forcing them to comply with Trump's sweeping agenda.
This vote threatens to divert billions in federal funds from critical programs such as school nutrition, emergency response, public transit, and disaster relief, inflicting devastating costs on communities that depend on these services while struggling to 
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Speakers emphasized that this mandate not only commandeers local resources for politically driven objectives but also raises serious legal and fiscal concerns. By coercing local governments into an untenable choice, the proposed measure risks undermining public safety infrastructure and eroding the trust that underpins community well-being.
Adriel Orozco, senior policy counsel of the American Immigration Council: "H.R. 32 is trying to force local governments into abandoning the policies that keep their communities safe and thriving. Nobody wins when local law enforcement is required to spend precious resources on targeting workers and families who've lived in the community for decades, as this bill seeks to enforce. We need Congress to come up with commonsense and balanced solutions to create an immigration system that treats people fairly. Instead, this bill is punishing communities for being welcoming, inclusive, and smart about public safety. It is little wonder that so many state and local officials are taking a stand and pushing back."
Ramin Fatehi; Commonwealth’s Attorney City of Norfolk, VA: “As a prosecutor, my priorities are public safety and public trust. The threat of mass deportations drives vulnerable people further into the shadows, leading to fewer victims who are immigrants reporting crimes and fewer convictions against dangerous people in our courts. If we truly care about public safety, then we must make it clear that local prosecutors are seen as guardians of the people, not tools of the Trump deportation machine.”
Angelita Morillo; Portland, OR City Councilor: "I'm really concerned about the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act. It is an extremely reckless bill that is going to strip essential federal funding from our communities simply for enacting commonsense policies that keep us safe. This bill is not only an attack on immigrant communities, it's an attack on all residents. It threatens funding for education, food and nutrition programs, disaster relief, emergency healthcare, transportation and housing assistance, and services for domestic violence survivors. It could deprive educators, doctors, nurses, and social workers of the resources that they need to do their jobs, and it forces impossible choices on people who simply want to care for their communities.
"As a leader in Portland and someone who was formerly a SNAP policy advocate before joining Portland City Council, I have deep concerns of the direct impacts that this is going to have on our most vulnerable residents who rely on federal programs who feed their families. I'm asking all of our legislators to be brave, I'm asking you to remember your oath that you took to protect the Constitution, and I hope that you will have the courage to stand with us."
Mary Moriarty; County Attorney, Hennepin County, MN: “HR 32 is an attack on the vital programs that protect domestic violence survivors. By stripping federal funding from organizations that provide lifesaving support, this bill would silence victims, deter witnesses, and make it harder to seek help or report abuse. In Minnesota alone, Cornerstone—serving over 5,000 women and children—relies on federal funding for nearly a third of its budget. The Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, which depends on federal grants for 90% of its funding, could be forced to shut down. The Minnesota Domestic Abuse Service Center, which helps over 22,000 survivors, and its partners like the Division of Indian Works also stand to lose critical resources.
"Cutting off these funds doesn’t make communities safer—it puts survivors at greater risk and weakens public safety for all. Congress must reject this dangerous bill and stand with the organizations that protect survivors and save lives.”
Jackie Sartoris; District Attorney, Cumberland County, ME: "I do not represent a sanctuary jurisdiction, but that does not mean we are safe from HR 32 – a draconian policy that will make it harder for local law enforcement officials to do our jobs. Cumberland County was forced to close its jail periodically during COVID, and we have struggled to keep it fully staffed since. Local law enforcement fought to rebuild our capacity to detain individuals that pose an active threat to our community, but this proposal will tie our hands. The federal government will force us to divert critical jail space away from repeat offenders and those who are violent so that ICE can hold immigrants for minor offenses.
"No survivor of domestic violence should have to fear that their abuser will walk free because our jails will be used to detain people for driving on a suspended license. Yet that is exactly what will happen. If this bill becomes law, when a survivor in imminent danger comes forward, I will not be able to guarantee we have the space to keep her abuser behind bars. That is not justice. That is not public safety. And it is beyond outrageous."
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The American Immigration Council works to strengthen America by shaping how America thinks about and acts towards immigrants and immigration and by working toward a more fair and just immigration system that opens its doors to those in need of protection and unleashes the energy and skills that immigrants bring. The Council brings together problem solvers and employs four coordinated approaches to advance change—litigation, research, legislative and administrative advocacy, and communications. In January 2022, the Council and New American Economy merged to combine a broad suite of advocacy tools to better expand and protect immigrants' rights, more fully ensure their ability to succeed economically, and help make the communities they settle in more welcoming. Follow the latest Council news and information on ImmigrationImpact.com and X @immcouncil.
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The Fund Our Communities. Protect Our Neighbors. Coalition is a network of advocates committed to building safe, well-resourced, and thriving communities across America. Together, we advocate for policies that protect our neighbors, uphold dignity, and create opportunities for all.
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