Southern Illinois News

Mike Bost, U.S. representative for Illinois’ 12th Congressional District, said he voted last week to end Washington D.C.’s sanctuary city policies. He cited concerns that city councilors are blocking local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"As President Trump works to clean up our immigration crisis, radical-left politicians on the D.C. City Council are blocking cooperation with federal immigration authorities, prioritizing illegal immigrants over law-abiding citizens," said Bost, according to Facebook. "That's unacceptable. I voted last week for the District of Columbia Federal Immigration Compliance Act to put an end to dangerous Sanctuary City policies in our nation's capital."

Bost was referring to House Resolution 2056, which aims to prevent the District of Columbia from adopting laws or policies that prohibit government entities from sharing citizenship or immigration status information with federal, state, or local authorities. The resolution would also bar the District from enforcing policies of noncompliance with U.S. Department of Homeland Security detainers for individuals, while exempting those who come forward as victims or witnesses to a crime. The resolution passed the U.S. House 224-194 on June 12.

Screenshot of U.S. Rep. Mike Bost's June 16 Facebook post | U.S. Rep. Mike Bost's Facebook page

In May, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser proposed repealing the District’s 2019 sanctuary city law in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, according to The 51st. The Sanctuary Values Amendment Act had barred local law enforcement from honoring ICE requests to hold individuals past their release time for immigration pickup. Bowser indicated that the sanctuary city provision could be managed through executive orders rather than city law. This repeal proposal is part of broader actions she has taken to align with former President Trump’s administration, including removing an immigrant support webpage, dismantling Black Lives Matter Plaza, and ceasing use of the term "sanctuary city."

Bost has represented Illinois’ 12th District since January 6, 2015. A lifelong Murphysboro resident, he has extensive experience in state politics, having served as the House Republican Caucus Chair in the Illinois State House of Representatives for two decades. He is also a former U.S. Marine Corps member, serving from 1979-1982. Before entering full-time politics, Bost worked for 24 years at Bost Trucking Service and later joined the Murphysboro Fire Department after completing training at the University of Illinois’ Certified Firefighter II Academy in 1993.