Handful of House Democrats join Republicans in sanctuary city crackdown

A pair of bills cracking down on sanctuary cities passed the House of Representatives this week — with the support of multiple Democrats.

On Thursday, the House passed a bill to relocate Small Business Administration (SBA) offices from jurisdictions that shelter illegal immigrants. 

The legislation passed the House in a 211 to 199 vote, with five Democrats joining the GOP: Reps. Henry Cuellar of Texas, Laura Gillen of New York, Don Davis of North Carolina, Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.

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That’s despite House Democratic leaders urging lawmakers to vote against the bill.

SBA offices at the regional, district and local levels would be required to relocate if the administration publicly designated their locations as sanctuary jurisdictions.

“House Republicans are holding these cities accountable for their refusal to follow immigration law and protect their citizens,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the No. 3 House Republican, told Fox News Digital of the bill.

“Under President Trump, lawlessness that endangers the American people and prioritizes illegal aliens will not be rewarded with federal dollars and resources.”

The second bill, which passed on Friday morning, would add explicit language banning people in the U.S. illegally from obtaining SBA loans.

Eight Democrats voted for that legislation — Perez, Cuellar, Gillen and Davis all voted for the bill, along with Reps. Tom Suozzi of New York, Josh Harder of California, Marcy Kaptur of Ohio and Kristen McDonald Rivet of Michigan.

House Democratic leaders did not appear to give their caucus guidance on how to vote for the bill.

The Trump administration, however, celebrated the bipartisan vote.

“By harboring criminal illegal aliens, sanctuary cities jeopardize both the lives of American citizens and the livelihoods of our small businesses — which is exactly why the SBA is moving our field offices out of these lawless jurisdictions and into safer, more accessible communities that comply with federal law,” SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler told Fox News Digital. “This Administration is committed to ending the illegal invasion of our nation – and I am grateful for the bipartisan group of House lawmakers who voted in support of that agenda.”

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It is a sign of illegal immigration’s continued potency as a political issue, after proving key to Republicans’ victories in the House, Senate and White House last year.

The former bill was introduced by Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minn., and the latter by Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas.