Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced the State Accountability for Federal Deployment Costs Act, which would hold states refusing to enforce federal immigration law financially responsible when their actions force the federal government to deploy military resources to restore order.

“Sanctuary policies that obstruct federal law enforcement jeopardize communities and drain valuable resources - in fact, their very existence is a violation of the law,” said Chairman Arrington. “It’s entirely unacceptable for states that refuse to enforce immigration laws to expect taxpayers in states like Texas and Tennessee to foot the bill when the consequences of their lawlessness results in federal action. I’m proud to team up with Senator Blackburn to ensure that states that break the law, pay the price.”

“As lawless states like California obstruct the federal government’s work to enforce immigration law, American taxpayers in other states have been forced to foot the bill for the military forces required to quell the chaos and protect law-abiding citizens,” said Senator Blackburn. “If a state refuses to do its job and forces the federal government to respond to unrest, they should pay for it. The State Accountability for Federal Deployment Costs Act would require states to reimburse the federal government to cover these costs and send a message that refusing to comply with federal immigration law will not be tolerated.”

Background:

• Recently, the U.S. Department of Defense was forced to spend over $130 million deploying troops to Los Angeles to respond to protests over immigration enforcement.
• The federal government bears significant financial burdens when military personnel, such as active-duty service members or federally activated National Guard troops, are deployed to respond to civil disturbances or public safety threats.
• These deployments are not discretionary military operations but necessary responses to restore public order when states refuse to cooperate with lawful federal immigration enforcement efforts.
• Sanctuary policies, refusal to honor detainers, and public interference in federal operations have increased the likelihood of unrest and forced the federal government to intervene as American taxpayers across the country are forced to foot the bill

The State Accountability for Federal Deployment Costs Act would:

• Require states to reimburse the U.S. Department of Defense for costs associated with military deployments that are:

o    Initiated by the federal government, and

o    Directly caused by a state’s failure to cooperate with lawful federal immigration enforcement.

• Cover costs including travel, housing, equipment, and readiness impacts incurred by military personnel deployed under Title 10 authority
• Direct the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the U.S. Attorney General, to issue determinations of whether a state or locality’s refusal to assist materially contributed to the need for federal deployment.
• Mandate that states remit full payment within 180 days of receiving an invoice from the U.S. Department of Defense.
• Authorize the federal government to offset unpaid reimbursement amounts from federal discretionary grants awarded to the state
• Require the U.S. Secretary of Defense to submit semiannual reports to Congress on affected deployments, reimbursement status, and readiness impacts.

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