A new legislative push from Capitol Hill aims to put sanctuary city policies on notice — and its sponsor says the time for half-measures is over.
Sen. Eric Schmitt is preparing to introduce the Protect America Act, a sweeping bill designed to strengthen immigration enforcement, penalize cities that refuse to cooperate with federal authorities, and increase protections for officers facing escalating hostility on the ground. The proposal arrives as anti-ICE protests intensify in several major cities, underscoring what supporters call a growing breakdown in respect for federal law.
Schmitt argues the unrest is not accidental. It is, he says, the predictable result of local governments openly obstructing immigration enforcement while activist organizations shield those in the country illegally.
“This environment demands action,” Schmitt said in a statement. “The Protect America Act is a comprehensive, four-part legislative response designed to address the root causes of disorder, restore lawful enforcement authority, protect federal officers from coordinated interference and violence, and prevent the abuse of nonprofit status to support criminal activity.”
The legislation would condition federal funding on cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Cities that refuse to share information or block federal detainers would risk losing taxpayer dollars. Local jails would be required to provide identity and release information for detainees, closing loopholes that critics say allow repeat offenders to slip back into communities.
The bill also introduces civil liability: if a sanctuary jurisdiction knowingly releases a removable alien who later commits a serious crime, victims could sue. Supporters say the measure restores accountability to cities that have, in their view, prioritized ideology over public safety.
Equally central to the package is officer protection. Under the proposal, interfering with federal agents — including using devices meant to disrupt communications — could carry penalties of up to five years in prison. Assaulting a federal officer would trigger enhanced federal charges. The bill explicitly preserves First Amendment rights, drawing a line between lawful protest and physical obstruction.
Schmitt’s plan also toughens consequences for illegal entry and reentry. The act would elevate illegal entry to a felony, end catch-and-release practices, and mandate detention. Repeat border crossers would face steeper fines and prison sentences, signaling a sharp departure from policies critics say encouraged mass unlawful migration.
Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, are advancing a competing framework that would restrict the authority of the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. They have tied those demands to broader funding negotiations, a move Republicans describe as political brinkmanship.
Schmitt is blunt about the standoff. “We’re not doing any of this until we end sanctuary city status,” he said. “That’s what’s causing these confrontations. You don’t see this chaos in jurisdictions that cooperate with federal law. The solution is obvious.”
To supporters, the Protect America Act represents more than an immigration bill. It is a referendum on whether federal law will be enforced consistently across the country — or selectively ignored by cities that disagree with it. As protests grow louder and tensions rise, Schmitt is betting voters want clarity, enforcement, and order restored.
