S.20.3.25: Enforcing Our Laws Act (Failed)

[Holy Unifying Centrist]

Immigrants are a fantastic boon to our region when they go through the legal process. But our laws are important and they will be followed. We cannot incentivize rule breaking. Atlasia gives many social and economic benefits to people in need, as it should. And we cannot sustain our welfare and social program system if we allow people to break our laws and come into the country illegally. They must go through the system like everyone else to create an orderly and productive society.

This bill ensures that federal law enforcement can enforce the laws of our country while protecting religious freedom.  

[Holy Unifying Centrist]

What happens if cities ignore this law and declare themselves a sanctuary city?

Offering an amendment to provide clarification on this:

AN ACT
To support federal officers in enforcing our laws

Section 1: Naming and Definitions.

I. The name of this act shall be: "Enforcing Our Laws"
II. "Sanctuary cities" is defined as a city whose municipal laws tend to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation or prosecution, despite federal immigration law.

Section 2: End Sanctuary Cities

I. Cities are not allowed to declare themselves as "Sanctuary Cities". They must comply with federal immigration enforcement. Cities that do not follow this rule will be stripped of all regional funding.

Section 3: Religious Protection

I. Southern law enforcement will not carry out immigration arrests on property owned by religious groups.

Section 4: Immigration Statement

I. The southern chamber declares, "The south welcomes all immigrants who come to the south legally. Legal immigrants enrich our culture with their diverse perspectives and backgrounds".

I think this is appropriate for cities that do not follow the law.

I think that instead of tightening the punishments, we should make the legal immigration process easier so that those who wish to live in Atlasia, whether for personal pleasure or escape from tyranny, shall be able to do so easier without breaking our laws. Therefore, I just don't think this bill is the best answer to the region's immigration question.

We are not tightening any punishments. We are just enforcing the laws of the land. People are not allowed to break the law just because they feel like it. If you want to make legal immigration easier, I believe that is a matter of federal law. We do not have open borders because it would completely obliterate our current welfare programs that are so important for poor Atlasians.

[Holy Unifying Centrist]

It's not like people don't know the consequences of entering illegally...

Why should cities receive any funding at all if they refuse to follow federal laws? Keep in mind, when you have cities that blatantly ignore the law, you open the door for other cities to ignore laws you like. Changing it to 50% funding instead of cut at all just seems like a joke.

I agree with this. It's important that are laws are properly followed. We already made it easier to legally immigrate to Atlasia. I object to this amendment.

[Holy Unifying Centrist]

Nay

[Holy Unifying Centrist]

I would like to move to a final vote after we are done voting on this amendment.

[Holy Unifying Centrist]

AYE

[Holy Unifying Centrist]

The following comments are examples of behavior that is not tolerated in the Southern Chamber:

Those who voted against this are an embarrassment to the South and it's values.

There was nothing improper about the bill being introduced into this legislative body.

Look, we get it. Rather than care about citizens, you just want to sit around and complain and pick fights all day.

Insulting people is not tolerated in the Southern Chamber. There will be no more personality insults from this point on.

[Holy Unifying Centrist]

This bill will be reintroduced in the next chamber with modifications. I believe the South does have the right to make sure its laws are being enforced.