North Texas Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne has introduced two new bills aimed at cutting off federal funding to sanctuary cities and individuals convicted of rioting or attacking law enforcement officers.
Van Duyne, a Republican and former mayor of Irving, filed the Recouping Funds from Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025, which targets local governments that obstruct federal immigration enforcement. The bill would require cities and counties with sanctuary policies to repay unobligated federal funds they’ve received while refusing to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It would apply retroactively for five years from the date of passage.
“Sanctuary cities put law enforcement officers and law-abiding citizens at risk by sheltering criminal illegal aliens,” Van Duyne said. As mayor of Irving, she said working closely with ICE led to the removal of thousands of criminal aliens and helped make the city one of the safest in the country — not only for citizens but also for immigrant communities vulnerable to crime.
The bill defines sanctuary policies as any statute, ordinance, or practice that limits local cooperation with ICE — including withholding information about immigration status or ignoring ICE detainer requests for jailed individuals.
It also includes a grace period for cities to reverse such policies and notify the U.S. Attorney General of their compliance.
Van Duyne said the legislation is necessary in light of a sharp increase in attacks on ICE agents and federal officers. Recent reports indicate a 500% spike in such assaults over the past few months.
She previously introduced similar legislation — the No Congressional Funds for Sanctuary Cities Act — which would prohibit federal earmarks from going to state or local governments that identify as sanctuary jurisdictions.
In addition, Van Duyne introduced the Stop Funding Rioters Act, a response to violent protests in Los Angeles that targeted federal immigration officers. That bill would make anyone convicted of assaulting law enforcement or committing a felony during a riot — particularly one that destroys a small business — ineligible for federal aid or Small Business Administration (SBA) programs.
“Taxpayer dollars should never support those who violently attack law enforcement or destroy the livelihoods of hardworking Americans,” she said. “We need to ensure our federal programs help build communities, not reward those who tear them down.”
