Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, accused Senate Democrats on Tuesday of jeopardizing American lives by allowing the Department of Homeland Security to remain without full funding while supporting sanctuary city policies that limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
The criticism comes as DHS experiences its longest funding lapse in agency history, a situation Cornyn said has strained the department's ability to respond to security threats. The Texas Republican is one of the most senior members of the Senate and chairs the Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee.
What the Right Is Saying
Cornyn told Fox News Digital that public safety is the non-negotiable priority of government. 'If there's one job that is No. 1, non-negotiable, when it comes to our citizens, it's public safety,' he said. The senator accused Democrats of holding DHS hostage to avoid funding immigration enforcement.
Cornyn introduced the Sanctuary City Elimination Act last week, legislation that would bar sanctuary cities and states from receiving certain federal funds, including education grants, environmental funding, and community development block grants. The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Ted Budd, R-N.C., Tim Scott, R-S.C., Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.
The senator cited the case of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old U.S. citizen from Houston who was killed by two illegal immigrants during the Biden administration in 2024. 'Folks in Texas remember names like Jocelyn Nungaray,' Cornyn said. He argued that even with secure borders under President Trump, Democrats are refusing to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Cornyn suggested using the congressional reconciliation process to advance his bill if it faces obstacles through regular order. 'This is a battleground that we should not shy away from,' he said, adding that the issue would resonate with voters in upcoming elections.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic lawmakers and progressive advocacy groups have pushed back against framing sanctuary city policies as anti-public safety measures, arguing instead that such policies build trust between immigrant communities and local police, which they say improves overall community safety. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said DHS must be funded in the wake of recent security incidents.
Progressive critics argue that connecting sanctuary policies to crime lacks empirical support. Organizations like the American Immigration Lawyers Association have noted that studies show no correlation between sanctuary city designations and increased crime rates.
Democrats have also pointed out that DHS funding lapses stem from broader congressional budget disputes, not specifically from Democratic opposition to immigration enforcement. They note that Republicans control both chambers of Congress and share responsibility for appropriations decisions.
Some Democratic strategists argue the sanctuary city debate distracts from what they describe as more pressing immigration policy concerns, including processing backlogs and pathways to legal status for long-term residents who have established lives in the United States.
What the Numbers Show
Department of Homeland Security funding has lapsed for an extended period, marking the longest such gap in agency history, according to administration officials. The department oversees Customs and Border Protection, ICE, the Secret Service, FEMA, and other agencies totaling more than 260,000 employees.
Cornyn's Sanctuary City Elimination Act would affect federal grants distributed across multiple departments, including education, environmental protection, and community development programs. According to Cornyn's office, sanctuary jurisdictions would be ineligible for these funds if local police do not honor ICE detainers.
The Houston City Council voted the same week as Cornyn's bill introduction to reverse course on a sanctuary-type policy amid threats of legal action from state officials in Texas, where similar legislation has already been enacted at the state level.
The Bottom Line
The standoff over DHS funding reflects deeper divisions between Republicans and Democrats over immigration enforcement priorities. Cornyn's primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton adds political complexity to the debate, with Paxton receiving support from Turning Point USA while Cornyn has been endorsed by the National Border Patrol Council.
Trump has not issued an endorsement in the May runoff race. The outcome could affect whether Cornyn remains chairman of the Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee if he loses his seat.
What happens next: Congress must address DHS funding before the agency faces further operational constraints. Cornyn's bill would need to clear committee markup and floor votes in both chambers to advance, a path that typically requires bipartisan support for appropriations-related legislation.