House Freedom Caucus Chair Harris Labels Sanctuary Jurisdictions ‘Rogue’ and Demands Loss of Federal Grants

By Charlie McCarthy
Friday, 19 June 2026 08:55 AM EDT

House Freedom Caucus Chair Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) declared sanctuary jurisdictions “rogue” entities that should be barred from receiving federal grants.

Harris cited the arrest of a 32-year-old Salvadoran national in Harford County, Maryland, who was charged with three counts of second-degree rape and allegedly abused an underage girl beginning when she was in middle school. The suspect received a final order of removal from an immigration judge in 2019 but remained in the United States throughout the Biden administration.

“Maryland is a sanctuary jurisdiction,” Harris stated. “The United States under [former President] Joe Biden was a sanctuary jurisdiction.”

Harris called for tougher federal action against jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement, asserting they should be treated as “rogue jurisdictions that don’t agree with federal policy.” He specifically argued that such areas must lose access to federal grants if they do not assist in deporting individuals who commit serious crimes.

“Everyone wants federal grants,” Harris said. “Yet they won’t participate with federal immigration authorities even to deport people like this man who committed such a horrendous crime against a child.”

Additionally, Harris noted that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would help lower energy prices and improve economic conditions for Americans as part of ongoing negotiations with Iran following U.S. military actions targeting the country’s nuclear and missile programs.