A bill that would block sanctuary cities from receiving certain federal funds is on track to pass the House this week.
Vulnerable House Republicans pledged to vote for the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act, which aims to deny federal assistance to programs that benefited undocumented immigrants to jurisdictions that don't cooperate with federal immigration authorities, Punchbowl News reported.
The bill is set to pass the House on Friday, though its fate is unknown in the Democrat-controlled Senate. House Democrats have expressed concern that the bill could block funding for infrastructure projects and education programs, Punchbowl reported.
"It's excessive. A complete blanket ban on funding. Everybody uses roads, everybody uses schools," said Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif.
But House Republicans in battleground districts, particularly New York, said Democrats' concerns lack merit.
"I don't know that it's a practical, reasonable application of the bill," Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., the bill's sponsor, told Punchbowl. "I think they're trying to find an excuse to wiggle out of it. It's very popular amongst my constituents."
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., who represents a district that voted for President Joe Biden in 2020, also supports the bill.
"New York is spending billions of dollars of taxpayer money to house, clothe, feed and educate illegal immigrants," Lawler told Punchbowl. "That is something that shouldn't be."