“This is a battleground we should not shy away from”: Texas Sen. John Cornyn unleashes on Democrats over sanctuary policies after White House scare fuels new fears about public safety and immigration

Texas – A new political clash over immigration, public safety, and federal funding is exploding in Washington after Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn accused Democrats of putting Americans at risk by supporting sanctuary city policies while allowing the Department of Homeland Security to remain underfunded during a period of rising national security fears.

The heated comments came just days after a frightening incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, where what appeared to be another attempted assassination targeting President Donald Trump intensified concerns about security and political violence across the country. Against that backdrop, Cornyn argued that Democrats are undermining law enforcement efforts at the exact moment the country should be strengthening them.

The longtime Texas senator blasted what he described as a dangerous approach to immigration enforcement. “This is just another manifestation of the sort of defund police mentality on the left,” Cornyn said.

The senator tied the issue directly to the ongoing fight over immigration enforcement and the future of the Department of Homeland Security, which is currently facing the longest funding lapse in its history. According to Cornyn, the situation is making it harder for federal agencies to respond to growing threats.

“We know there are dangerous people here,” he said. “People with criminal records and others who are a threat to public safety. And if there’s one job that is No. 1, non-negotiable, when it comes to our citizens, it’s public safety.”

Cornyn Pushes New Sanctuary City Crackdown

At the center of the fight is Cornyn’s newly introduced Sanctuary City Elimination Act, legislation designed to pressure local governments into cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The bill would block sanctuary cities and states from receiving several forms of federal funding if they refuse to comply with ICE detainers. According to Cornyn’s office, the restrictions could impact grants tied to education, arts programs, environmental projects, and community development.

The proposal would also protect local officers who cooperate with federal immigration authorities by treating them as federal officers, shielding them from possible prosecution. In addition, states harmed by crimes committed by undocumented immigrants released from sanctuary jurisdictions would gain the ability to sue those cities or states.

Cornyn argued that Democrats are intentionally obstructing immigration enforcement by refusing to fully support DHS funding.

He accused Democrats of holding DHS “hostage” in order to “avoid funding immigration enforcement.”

The Texas senator also connected the issue to several high-profile crimes involving undocumented immigrants, including the 2024 killing of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston during the Biden administration.

“Folks in Texas remember names like Jocelyn Nungaray and others who have been victims of the unlimited open borders immigration that the Biden administration allowed during his four years in office,” Cornyn said.

“Now that we have safe, secure borders under President Trump, [Democrats] are saying they don’t want to support the Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE],” he added.

Midterm Politics and a Bitter Republican Fight

The immigration battle is unfolding while Cornyn faces one of the toughest political fights of his career. The senator is currently locked in a fierce Republican primary runoff against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is challenging him for the Senate seat Cornyn has held since 2002.

The race has divided conservatives across Texas. Paxton has secured endorsements from groups like Turning Point USA, while Cornyn has received backing from the National Border Patrol Council. President Donald Trump has not endorsed either candidate ahead of the late-May runoff.

Still, Cornyn appears determined to make immigration enforcement the centerpiece of both his campaign and the broader Republican midterm message.

“This is a battleground that we should not shy away from,” he said.

The senator believes the issue will remain politically powerful heading into November, especially as Republicans continue attacking Democrats over border security and public safety.

“They don’t care about public safety. … We do care about public safety,” Cornyn said, arguing that the contrast between the two parties could become a major issue for voters.

White House Scare Deepens Political Divide

The recent White House incident added even more fuel to the already explosive debate. Cornyn sharply criticized Democrats for expressing concern over Trump’s safety while, in his view, failing to properly fund the agencies responsible for protecting him.

“Democrats cannot feign concern for President Trump’s life while also refusing to fund the very Department that houses Secret Service and other agencies sworn to protect him,” Cornyn told Fox News Digital.

“I hope that, finally, the events of this past weekend will serve as a wake-up call for Democrats to fund DHS.”

The same week Cornyn introduced his bill, the Houston City Council reportedly backed away from a sanctuary-style policy after threats of legal action from Texas officials. Cornyn now hopes similar pressure can be applied nationwide.

Even if Democrats block his legislation through normal channels, Cornyn said Republicans could attempt to move parts of the proposal through budget reconciliation alongside future funding for ICE and DHS.

As tensions over immigration, public safety, and political violence continue rising across the country, Cornyn is betting that voters will increasingly side with tougher enforcement policies — and that Republicans can turn those fears into political momentum heading into the midterm elections.