In a bold move aimed at sanctuary cities, Republican Rep. Burgess Owens of Utah proposed significant changes on Friday.
Owens' Sanctuary City Oversight and Responsibility in Enforcement (SCORE) Act seeks to arrest the Biden administration's continued provision of federal funding to sanctuary cities that send illegal migrants to non-sanctuary municipalities without appropriate arrangements, as Fox News reports.
The SCORE Act intends to ensure sanctuary cities are accountable for the migrants they admit. Owens’s proposal underscores that cities providing refuge cannot sidestep their responsibilities by offloading migrants to other communities unprepared for the influx.
The proposed legislation aims to restrict FEMA Shelter and Services Program (SSP) funding from being used to send migrants to communities without local consent. Cities like Denver have been aiding migrants by providing tickets to non-sanctuary municipalities such as Salt Lake City.
An alarming incident in Denver saw more than 1,500 tickets issued to migrants to travel to Utah’s Salt Lake City without notifying local officials. This act epitomizes the chaos the SCORE Act seeks to address.
Under the new bill, any migrant being relocated must have a documented sponsor at the destination. This ensures migrants do not end up requiring government shelters in their new locations. The bill mandates a quarterly report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on FEMA grant usage. This measure ensures transparency and ensures compliance with the new funding restrictions.
FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program funding is designed to assist financially in supporting migrants as they await their court appearances. However, the new restrictions aim to close loopholes that cities have exploited.
Rep. Owens took to social media platform X with a video explaining the proposed legislation. In the video, he expressed concerns regarding the current administration's handling of border security and migrant distribution.
"If this administration won't fight for American safety, security, and rule of law, our Republican majority will," Owens stated passionately. He emphasized that taxpayer funding for migrant relocation should be meticulously controlled.
Owens conveyed a clear message to sanctuary cities: "My message to these sanctuary cities is simple — you cheered on open borders, and you welcomed these migrants with open arms. Now that your resources and services are overwhelmed, you will not be allowed to ship these desperate people into our communities."
He pointedly criticized self-declared sanctuary cities like Denver, which have been sending migrants to non-sanctuary cities such as Salt Lake City. The newly proposed bill seeks to cut this funding and close what Owens calls a "loophole" fueling the crisis in Utah.
The SCORE Act reflects a concerted effort to manage migrant distribution and the associated financial logistics. It emphasizes holding sanctuary cities accountable for their decisions and ensuring that non-sanctuary cities are not overwhelmed.
In summary, the SCORE Act proposed by Rep. Burgess Owens aims to cut federal funding to sanctuary cities that transport illegal migrants to non-sanctuary municipalities without proper consent and arrangements.
