Utah lawmaker wants to punish sanctuary cities that transport migrants elsewhere

Legislation proposed by a Utah lawmaker would cut funding to sanctuary cities that attempt to transport undocumented immigrants to municipalities that do not recognize sanctuary.

Republican Rep. Burgess Owens of Utah introduced the Sanctuary City Oversight and Responsibility in Enforcement (SCORE) Act to the public on Friday, promising that the bill would hold sanctuary cities accountable for their migrants if passed.

“If this administration won’t fight for American safety, security and the rule of law, our Republican majority will,” Owens said. “I have introduced legislation to remove taxpayer dollars that fund migrants coming into our communities.”

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Migrants wait to be transported and processed by U.S. Border Patrol agents at the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Owens posted a video on social media platform X explaining the proposed regulations.

“My message to these sanctuary cities is simple — you cheered open borders and welcomed these migrants with open arms,” Owens said in the video. “Now, with your resources and services overwhelmed, you will not be able to send these desperate people into our communities.”

The SCORE Act would restrict the use of FEMA Shelter and Services Program funds to purchase transportation to other municipalities without local government approval.

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Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, attends the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee organizational meeting and hearing at the Rayburn Building in Washington, D.C. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)

FEMA SSP grants are a federal initiative designed to help grantees financially support migrants awaiting court dates.

Migrants being transported elsewhere will also need to have a documented sponsor at their destination to ensure they do not require government shelter.

The SCORE Act would also require the Government Accountability Office to prepare a quarterly report on FEMA grant recipients to ensure compliance.

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Migrants walk on a highway through Suchiate, in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, on their way north toward the U.S. border. (AP Photo/Edgar H. Clemente)

Owens decided to introduce the legislation after Denver authorities issued more than 1,500 tickets to illegal immigrants who allegedly traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, without notifying local officials.

“Self-declared sanctuary cities like Denver are quietly sending migrants to non-sanctuary cities like Salt Lake City as the Biden-Harris open borders agenda overwhelms resources,” Owens said in his announcement video. “My new bill would cut that funding and close the loophole that is fueling this crisis in Utah.”

Timothy Nerozzi is a writer for Fox News Digital. You can follow him on Twitter @timothynerozzi and email him at [email protected]