WASHINGTON – The House Judiciary Committee on Friday passed House Resolution 7640, the Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act authored by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-El Dorado Hills), who represents portions of Stanislaus County, including Turlock.

The bill, according to McClintock, would assert federal supremacy over enforcement of immigration law by pre-empting sanctuary jurisdictions from interfering with local enforcement of immigration law, and would allow jurisdictions in sanctuary states to work directly with federal law enforcement agencies to uphold immigration laws, protects local law enforcement officers from being sued or by sanctuary jurisdictions, and re-directs federal law enforcement funds from sanctuary jurisdictions to those cooperating with federal agencies. It would also give victims of criminals released by sanctuary jurisdictions the right to sue for damages caused by those releases.

"All of the local sheriffs in my district want desperately to cooperate with ICE to enforce our immigration laws, but the State of California forbids them from doing so,” said McClintock, who is chairman of the House subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement. “My bill will allow them to work directly with the federal government to keep their counties safe and to receive the funds that would otherwise go to sanctuary jurisdictions.

Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse said he has never talked to McClintock regarding cooperation with ICE.

“I can’t think of the last time that I’ve talked with the Congressman or anyone from his office,” said Dirkse. “I’d say it’s been at least a year.”

Generally, sanctuary jurisdictions limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. There are hundreds of sanctuary jurisdictions across the country, in both blue and red states.

“Democrat-run sanctuary jurisdictions protect criminal illegal aliens and threaten public safety, said House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). “Rep. McClintock’s Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act is commonsense legislation that will rein in sanctuary policies across the country and help keep Americans safe.”

Dirkse believes it’s counterproductive to restrict cooperation between agencies – “Whether you like it or not, ICE is a duly charged agency to enforce federal law” – but thinks ICE could be more efficient. Between 2021 and 2024, nearly 400 legitimate ICE holds – criminals that, by law, had to be turned over to ICE – were held in the Stanislaus County jail. ICE claimed one of those criminals, according to the sheriff.

“In 2025, I think we turned over 39 out of about 100 – 100 is kind of our norm per year,” said Dirkse. “But that’s my biggest issue: why isn’t ICE claiming 100 percent of the criminals that I can turn over to them under the law? Why don’t we start there? I’ve talked to ICE, I’ve talked to (Homeland Security Investigations), I’ve talked to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California. Can somebody please put pressure on ICE to come and get these convicted criminals?”

After passing in committee, the bill will move to passage on the House floor. Should it clear the full House, it would move on to the Senate.

“You might love the idea of sanctuary cities, or you might hate it,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland), the top Democrat on the Judiciary committee. “But regardless, this bill goes way beyond sanctuary cities. This bill is a full-blown assault on the 10nth Amendment of the Constitution.”