Relocation of Small Business Administration's Field Offices from 'Sanctuary Jurisdictions' Mandated by House Bill

The House of Representatives has passed legislation known as the Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act (H.R. 2931) in a 211-199 vote, with the majority of the vote falling along party lines.

This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to relocate its regional, district, and local offices in "sanctuary jurisdictions." The House debate on the bill took place on Thursday.

The legislation codifies efforts already made by the Trump administration to address sanctuary cities. Since the start of his second term, the administration has emphasized Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids as a key part of the president's plans for mass deportations.

The SBA had previously announced plans to relocate its regional offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York City, and Seattle due to their immigration enforcement policies. The bill pertains to the relocation of SBA offices in cities with certain immigration enforcement policies.

The bill defines a sanctuary jurisdiction as any state or city that has a policy restricting officials from communicating with another governmental entity about an individual's citizenship or immigration status, or from complying with a request by the Homeland Security Department to detain or notify about the release of a migrant.

Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, Don Davis, D-N.C., Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., Jared Golden, D-Maine, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., voted for the legislation. They are considered more moderate lawmakers. On the other hand, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., expressed opposition to the bill, stating it adds confusion and disruption for those being helped, wastes taxpayer dollars, and ignores real economic challenges.

Notably, Reps. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., and David Valadao, R-Calif., as well as Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., who represents New York City's Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, also voted against the bill. California is considered a sanctuary state, and New York City is a sanctuary city.

The SBA Administrator is Kelly Loeffler. The specific names of the members of the U.S. Congress who opposed the bill are not publicly detailed in widespread sources, but they include a mix of Democrats and some Republicans who support sanctuary policies.

President Trump is taking action to stop the federal subsidization of areas that refuse to comply with immigration laws. The bill's passage marks a significant step in the administration's efforts to address sanctuary cities.