Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined 25 other state attorneys general this week in sending a letter to Congress requesting lawmakers pass the Immigration Enforcement Partnership Act of 2023.
The bill (H.R. 1337), originally introduced in March by Florida U.S. Representative Bill Posey (R-FL-08), would grant state attorneys general the authority to enforce certain federal immigration laws.
If enacted, the bill would authorize a state attorney general the ability “to request in writing that the Department of Homeland Security adequately fulfill certain duties related to immigration enforcement. Within 30 days of receiving such a request, DHS must ensure that such duties are adequately fulfilled by DHS officers and employees or authorize that state’s officials to fulfill such duties. The state attorney general may sue DHS for failure to meet this bill’s requirements.”
The group of attorneys general is also requesting Congress to hold an expedited hearing on the bill, as the legislation has yet to have one.
“It is surprising to us that H.R. 1337 and other similar proposed laws have received so little attention, and we hope that under your leadership that will change,” the coalition wrote to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04). “We ask that you schedule a hearing for H.R. 1337 on an expedited basis. Illegal immigration is threatening every State in our nation.”
The coalition argues that the bill’s passage would ultimately allow states to “do the job the Biden Administration refuses to do,” in regards to preventing “another illegal immigration record next year, start to curb American deaths caused by the Mexican and Chinese fentanyl, and reduce the number of terrorists entering our country.”
“Controlling the border is the most fundamental duty of any national government. When our federal government fails to defend that border, the states must be given authority to join in the enforcement of immigration laws,” Skrmetti said in a separate statement. “I’m proud to co-sign this letter in support which would empower U.S. States everywhere to do the job the federal government refuses to do.”
– – –
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Illegal Immigrants” by Chief Patrol Agent Sean L. McGoffin.
