Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) secured a provision in the House-passed funding package that allocates $350 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest criminal illegal immigrants after their release from state or local custody. The measure aims to address sanctuary city policies, where local law enforcement often refuses to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
Schmitt warned that Democrats' immigration policies pose a threat to Western civilization, arguing that failing to deport illegal aliens with criminal records undermines national sovereignty. He claimed Democrats' approach is driven by political self-interest rather than moral principles, stating, 'There's an electoral play here. It's about raw power.'
The provision comes amid ongoing tensions between federal and local authorities over immigration enforcement. Schmitt cited 18,000 cases in 2025 where criminal illegal immigrants were released without deportation due to sanctuary policies. Meanwhile, Democrats have proposed restrictions on ICE's ability to detain criminal illegal aliens, setting up a clash over immigration enforcement priorities.