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Immigration See other Immigration Articles Title: To keep Federal funding - Illinois' Cook County tells Justice Department it's not a 'sanctuary' jurisdiction One of the targets of the Department of Justice's initiative to identify "sanctuary cities" across the country says it doesn't deserve that label, and therefore shouldn't be subject to any federal sanctions. "We believe we are in compliance with all relevant federal laws," Frank Shuftan, a spokesman for Cook County, Ill., told the Washington Examiner Friday. In April, the Justice Department put nine so-called "sanctuary" jurisdictions on notice, warning them in a letter they had until June 30 to submit documentation proving they are in compliance with a federal statute that requires them to communicate with federal officials about immigration matters, or risk losing Office of Justice Programs grants. Cook County was one of those jurisdictions put on notice. The Washington Examiner obtained the letter and legal opinion submitted to the Justice Department declaring compliance with the relevant federal statute, 8 USC § 1373. In a letter to Acting Assistant Attorney General Alan Hanson and Acting Office of Justice Programs Director Tracey Trautman, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle wrote that the legal opinion is submitted "adequately supports the validation and confirms Cook County's compliance with Section 1373." "In doing so, Cook County does not concede that it is lawful to condition eligibility for federal grant funding, including but not limited to [Edward Bryne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants], on compliance with Section 1373," Preckwinkle wrote in the letter dated Thursday. The federal statute cited by the Justice Department — 8 USC § 1373 — prohibits local and state governments from enacting laws or policies that limit communication with Immigration and Customs Enforcement Customs and Border Protection about "information regarding the immigration or citizenship status." In the current federal budget year, Illinois is set to receive 70 grants from the Office of Justice Programs totaling more than $120 million. The pushback by Cook County comes as the Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Friday blasted sanctuary policies for endangering Chicago, while simultaneously announcing a new federal task force to fight high crime in the area. The Justice Department also sent warning letters to Sacramento, the City of Chicago, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Miami, Milwaukee and New York City in April. These jurisdictions that are at risk of being dubbed "sanctuary" say they are not in violation of the federal statute because it does not require compliance with ICE requests such as detainers or requests for notification of release dates. The statute only prohibits the enactment of certain policies about sharing immigration status, which they say they do not do. Edward Bryne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants, known as JAG grants, provide "federal criminal justice funding to state, local and tribal jurisdictions" for things such as personnel, training, equipment and supplies." When asked for an update on the status of other jurisdictions on Friday, deadline day, a Justice Department spokesperson said they are "not providing updates today." Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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