Candidate Survey 2026: Do you oppose sanctuary states and cities?

People need to stop being so damn scared.  If some city where I don’t live wants a policy environment that I don’t agree with, I don’t care.  If my city wants to pull something I don’t agree with, then I get involved right here.

At the same time, this is a delicate constitutional issue. The federal government cannot simply commandeer state and local governments to administer federal programs. If Congress believes immigration enforcement requires broader state participation, it should legislate within its constitutional powers rather than relying solely on executive action. Congress possesses authority to provide for calling forth the militia of the several states to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions. If Congress determines that widespread and deliberate obstruction of federal immigration law creates a genuine threat to the execution of the laws of the United States, it should address that question openly through constitutional legislation, rather than through unilateral executive action. Our constitutional system works best when each branch exercises its proper authority, preserving both the rule of law and the balance of our federal republic.

Imagine what would have happened if we didn’t let jews in after the holocaust.

Sanctuary policies where local governments limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement can create confusion, complicate law enforcement efforts, and sometimes put public safety at risk.

At the same time, I understand the concerns communities have about trust between residents and local authorities. My approach is to support policies that protect public safety, uphold the law, and foster cooperation between local, state, and federal authorities, while ensuring that enforcement is humane and respects individual rights.

The goal should always be a safe, orderly, and fair system that works for everyone in Louisiana’s 2nd District.

However, this unity is a two-way contract: the Federal government must always act strictly according to the Constitution. The Constitution is the foundational ‘manual’ for our national ship. If the federal authority oversteps these bounds or fails its constitutional duties, the states have a fundamental right—and a civic obligation—to act in the interests of their populations to protect the integrity of our democracy. Sanctuary policies are a symptom of a breakdown in public trust. To move forward, we must restore a system where the law is applied uniformly across all states, provided that the law remains anchored in the constitutional blueprint that defines our shared civic mission.

It is also the job of the Judicial Branch to ensure the laws passed are Constitutionally Legal.

States and cities don’t get to decide this. It’s the Federal Government’s job to legislate, regulate and enforce immigration. Tho at this time it is flawed.

I support states rights, which includes the right of states and cities to enact sanctuary policies. States and localities are under no constitutional obligation to assist federal immigration enforcement. Local authorities can choose whether or not to cooperate, focus on local crime, and release individuals according to their own policies and laws. I fully respect a state’s or city’s decision to tell federal agencies they will not help with immigration matters.

States have the right to not enforce, or cooperate, with the federal government. They may not break the law and impede federal officials. But they do not have to cooperate.

This goes back to many areas in our history, but the one that stands out is the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. This federal law required that all escaped slaves, upon capture, be returned to the slave-owner and that officials and citizens of free states had to cooperate. In response, free states in the north passed legislation stopping state support for this federal act.

Local and state governments should work in partnership with federal law enforcement to ensure that individuals who are in the country illegally, particularly those who commit crimes, can be properly identified and, when appropriate, removed.

At the same time, I believe local law enforcement should not be forced to act as federal immigration agents in routine civil matters. The focus should be on removing dangerous offenders, maintaining trust between police and communities, and ensuring immigration enforcement is lawful, targeted, and effective, not political.

I fully support the current administrations’ policy of withholding any federal funds from jurisdictions who actively turn a blind eye to the flouting of federal law.