Montana’s Stance on Immigration and Sanctuary Cities

Montana’s Governor, Greg Gianforte, has asserted that his state won’t allow Democratic-led cities to bypass laws that prohibit sanctuary cities. He mentioned this during a discussion on Breitbart News Daily, explaining that even as a northern border state, Montana faces its own challenges akin to those on the southern border.

As the head of the Republican Governors Association, Gianforte pointed out the measures his state has taken in addressing illegal immigration, offering a blueprint for other Republican-led states encountering similar issues.

“I signed a law against sanctuary cities, but then some disobedient municipalities chose to ignore it,” he noted.

Rather than letting it slide, Gianforte suggested working closely with the attorney general and local law enforcement to tackle the dismissive attitude. He specifically referenced Helena, the state capital and a Democratic stronghold, which had passed a resolution to not cooperate with ICE. His office issued them a friendly reminder that they were violating the law, prompting Helena to retract the resolution.

“That’s why we’re collaborating with our federal law enforcement partners,” Gianforte explained. “Even as a northern border state, we’ve noticed the repercussions of Biden’s open border policies, particularly concerning the influx of drugs in our communities.” He mentioned instances of cartel members being apprehended both on Indian reservations and in Bozeman.

Despite the geographical location, Gianforte reiterated that Montana grapples with a “southern border issue.” He elaborated, “The substances we’re encountering, whether it’s fentanyl or cocaine, originate in Mexico. We’ve managed to phase out meth in Montana, but now it’s a challenge coming from Mexico. The situation is improving, but we still need to focus on removing these criminals from our streets.” He pointed out that concerns along the northern border are minor when compared to the continuing effects of events unfolding at the southern border.

Gianforte also highlighted that Montana has the longest border with Canada of any U.S. state, but it lacks significant border crossings and remains quite rural. “We’re not claiming there are no issues, but the majority of drugs entering Montana come through Interstate 15 from Mexico,” he added.