{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-slams-attorney-general-sessions-for-threatening-public-safety-funding-to-burlington-and-the-state-of-vermont-over-the-trump-administrations-misguided-anti-immigrant-policies", "Leahy Slams Attorney General Sessions For Threatening Public Safety Funding To Burlington And The State Of Vermont, Over The Trump Administrations Misguided Anti-Immigrant Policies", "2017-11-15", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.15.17\n\t\t\t Leahy Slams Attorney General Sessions For Threatening Public Safety Funding To Burlington And The State Of Vermont, Over The Trump Administration\u2019s Misguided Anti-Immigrant Policies \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t[(WEDNESDAY, Nov. 15, 2017) \u2013 This afternoon (Wednesday), Attorney General Jeff Sessions\u2019 Justice Department notified the State of Vermont and the City of Burlington that the Department believes they have laws, policies or practices that violate 8 U.S.C. 1373, a federal statute that promotes information-sharing related to immigration enforcement.\u00a0 In all, the Department cited 29 jurisdictions, sometimes derided as \u201csanctuary cities,\u201d that are being threatened with the withholding of funds. \u00a0Specifically, the Department is questioning whether the State of Vermont and the City of Burlington comply with requirements of the fiscal years 2016 and 2017 Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (Byrne JAG).\u00a0 In all, the Department threatened 29 jurisdictions, sometimes derided as \u201csanctuary cities,\u201d with the withholding of Byrne JAG funds. \u00a0The State of Vermont and the City of Burlington have until December 8, 2017, to submit a response to the Department that addresses whether they have laws, policies or practices that violate this statute.\u00a0 Byrne JAG is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local governments, including law enforcement agencies.\u00a0 This program uses a congressionally mandated formula, as laid out by Congress.\u00a0 In fiscal year 2016, the State of Vermont received $507,892 and the City of Burlington received $39,945.\u00a0 For fiscal year 2017, Vermont\u2019s allocation is $476,496, and Burlington\u2019s is $38,845, but the Justice Department is holding up all Byrne JAG grants for the entire nation.\r\nFollowing is a comment on this by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).\u00a0 Leahy is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a leading member of the Senate Judiciary Committee:]\r\n\u201cThese moves against the State of Vermont and the City of Burlington by Attorney General Sessions are shameful.\u00a0 I strongly believe that police chiefs and local leaders should decide what state and local policies are necessary and best to keep their communities safe \u2014 not an Attorney General who is attempting to extort immigration reform by cutting off vital public safety dollars to local communities and their residents.\r\n\u201cThe Attorney General\u2019s decision puts public safety at risk by delaying nearly $700 million in Byrne JAG, SCAAP, COPS Hiring, and Anti-Methamphetamine and Anti-Heroin Task Forces funding for law enforcement agencies across the country. \u00a0This only serves to punish local law enforcement agencies and victims of domestic and sexual violence and other violent crimes. \u00a0Frankly, this funding should have been out the door months ago from the Justice Department, and these delays will jeopardize local efforts to fight crime, including criminal gang activity, and to combat heroin trafficking.\u00a0 Just today a federal judge enjoined the Justice Department from pursuing these very policies.\u00a0 These actions make one thing clear: \u00a0In their disgraceful and unending efforts to villainize and scapegoat immigrants, President Trump and Attorney General Sessions are willing to make our communities less safe and to abandon victims of crime.\u201d\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tDavid Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-slams-attorney-general-sessions-for-threatening-public-safety-funding-to-burlington-and-the-state-of-vermont-over-the-trump-administrations-misguided-anti-immigrant-policies"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6908179968595505, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}