The agency also blocks access to loans for illegal immigrants.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) said it will move several offices from cities with sanctuary policies for illegal immigration as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to block illegal immigration.
The SBA statement did not say where the offices will be moved.
“In the past four years, record-breaking aggression by illegal foreigners has put both the lives of American citizens and the lives of American small business owners at risk,” said SBA administrator Kelly Loeffler. “Under President Trump, the SBA is committed to putting American citizens first again, starting by ensuring that zero taxpayer dollars will fund illegal aliens.”
Former Georgia Senator Loffler said the SBA will “relocate local offices from the sanctuary city, which cuts access to illegal aliens’ loans and rewards criminal activity.”
“We will work with local governments that share this administration’s commitment to ensuring borders and safe communities to focus on empowering legally qualified business owners across the United States,” she added.
Related Stories
The SBA does not provide direct loans except in cases related to disasters, but will work with lenders to distribute the loans to small businesses. Loans usually have better rates than traditional loans.
There are no specific definitions in Sanctuary City’s policies. These municipalities are generally run by Democrats and limit local law enforcement agencies’ cooperation with federal immigration agents. Republicans and President Donald Trump have been largely critical of such policies.
Last year, Trump said if he becomes president on the campaign trail, his administration will move to target so-called sanctuary cities and illegal immigrants who commit crimes. He also said he would call on Congress to ban such policies.
“As soon as I took office, we have an immediate surge in federal law enforcement in all cities that have failed to take over criminal foreigners, and we have captured all gang members, drug dealers, rapists, murderers, immigrant criminals and are being sued illegally.
Several Democratic mayors, including Eric Adams of New York, Mike Johnston of Denver, Brandon Johnson of Chicago and Michelle Wu of Boston, were faced with questions from House lawmakers on immigration policy last week.
Johnston told a House panel that he believes Republicans are misrepresenting such laws.
“We know that these laws have myths, but we should not obscure the reality that Chicago’s crime rate is falling because of false traits and fear,” Johnson told the committee. “We still have a long way to go, but we don’t govern sensationalizing the tragedy in the name of political convenience. It’s grand.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
