WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham successfully added four amendments to the omnibus appropriations bill, including increased funding for the hiring of state and local police officers in high-crime communities like Albuquerque.
The House passed the appropriations bill today, which now heads to the Senate for consideration.
The legislation includes an amendment from Rep. Lujan Grisham that increases funding by $5 million under the Byrne JAG Program. This is the same program highlighted recently by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who threatened to withhold funding to high-crime cities, including Albuquerque, which he characterizes as sanctuary cities.
"This funding is meant to help cities like Albuquerque hire more officers to fight crime," Rep. Lujan Grisham said. "The Department of Justice has already concluded that the Albuquerque Police Department is eligible to receive this funding. The additional $5 million I included in the Appropriations package will provide a needed boost to local law enforcement."
The Attorney General sent a letter to Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden Eden last month that raised questions about APD's approach to crime related to illegal immigration. Rep. Lujan Grisham reiterated that Albuquerque has an urgent need to address chronic understaffing at APD and target violent criminals.
"The Attorney General should abandon his anti-immigrant agenda and allow local law enforcement to access the tools that are necessary to fight crime," Rep. Lujan Grisham.
"This political directive from the Department of Justice threatens to make cities like Albuquerque less safe by forcing local police officers to do the work of federal immigration agents," Rep. Lujan Grisham said. "Albuquerque's police force is chronically understaffed, and officers are already working overtime to combat violent crime in our community.
The House also approved three other amendments to the Appropriations Bill that were sponsored by Rep. Lujan Grisham:
- Private Prisons: Prioritizes funding within the DHS office of the Secretary to complete a study on the treatment of detainees and the conditions of private detention centers.
- Emergency Communications: Increases DHS Urban Areas Security Initiative by $5 million in order to increase emergency interoperability capabilities. It decreases funds for DHS management by the same amount.
- High Tech Jobs: Increases SBA Entrepreneurial Development Programs for the purpose of commercializing new innovative technologies at small, high tech companies by $5 million