U.S. Senator Katie Britt Fights Sanctuary City Policies, Stands Up for Small Businesses

Questions DOJ nominees about competitiveness for small businesses and recovering from the Biden-Harris’ flawed immigration system

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) recently participated in a hearing of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on the nominations of Todd Blanche to serve as Deputy Attorney General and Gail Slater to serve as the Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division.

During her questioning, Senator Britt focused on multiple issues relevant to the Department of Justice (DOJ), including the importance of proper antitrust enforcement for small businesses, the severe backlog in immigration courts, dangerous sanctuary city policies, and the Department’s lack of responsiveness to congressional oversight during the Biden Administration.

Senator Britt began by questioning Gail Slater. The Senator said: “As a daughter of two small business owners, I constantly look at what’s happening in our country and think, you know, how does this affect the little guy? How do we make sure that main streets can thrive?  . . . Making sure that our small businesses, our entrepreneurs have an opportunity to thrive and create and innovate, not only living their American Dream, but providing such an important pillar of our entire society, I think is really important. I’d like to know, how do you view the Antitrust Division’s role with respect to ensuring that these small businesses and entrepreneurs can thrive and compete in today’s economy?”

Slater responded affirmatively saying antitrust plays an important role. She said, “In broad strokes, the role of the Antitrust Division, if done right, is to keep markets competitive.” Slater emphasized the importance in ensuring markets are competitive so barriers to entry are low. Senator Britt followed up asking if she had her commitment to ensure barriers to entry are removed “so people can be a part of the American Dream.” Nominee Slater responded affirmatively.

When questioning Blanche, Senator Britt first focused on the Executive Office for Immigration Review. She brought up the backlog at the court growing from 1.4 million in Fiscal Year 2021 to 3.5 million in Fiscal Year 2024.

“During the Biden Administration . . . there seemed to be a . . .  culture that was fostered of just not completing cases, and I say that because if you look at the numbers from Fiscal Year 21 to Fiscal Year 24, immigration judges failed to adjudicate over 340,000 asylum client claims,” said Senator Britt. “I want to put that in perspective for you. If you take the previous six fiscal years combined, that is 26 times higher than all of those put together.”

She then reiterated the Trump Administration’s effective reforms that were instituted in his first term. Those reforms included “a more effective system” with metrics and measures to “reduce the abuse of case continuances.” She went on to say, “It made a difference.”

Senator Britt asked Blanche to commit to working with Attorney General Pam Bondi to reimplement those reforms. He responded, “Of course. Absolutely, Senator.”

Senator Britt also highlighted Attorney General Bondi’s memo that outlined DOJ’s intent to end funding for sanctuary cities to the extent allowed by law and to take appropriate legal action to challenge the policies of sanctuary jurisdictions. “These sanctuary jurisdictions and their reckless policies undermine the safety of all Americans, and they have no business receiving taxpayer dollars and should be held accountable for their decisions to violate the law. I know that you work closely with Attorney General Bondi on this issue, and I just wanted to say thank you. And you have my full support,” said Senator Britt.

The last issue Senator Britt brought to Blanche’s attention was the Biden DOJ’s failure to respond to Congressional oversight of the department. “I, along with my colleagues here on both sides of the aisle, I’m sure have experienced DOJ total lack of responsiveness when it comes to congressional oversight in recent years,” Senator Britt said.

She went on to outline repeated failures by former-Attorney General Merrick Garland to provide appropriate answers to her letter regarding the Department’s failure to enforce federal law at the homes of Justices in the aftermath of the leak of the draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

Senator Britt asked Blanche if he would ensure DOJ would “not follow the same pattern of the last four years; and will instead work to be responsive to congressional oversight and efficiency in a timely manner and get to the bottom of what happened and why Section 1507 was not followed in the way that it should have been.” He affirmed he would.

Senator Britt today voted in support of the nominations of Blanche to serve as Deputy Attorney General and Slater to serve as the Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division.

###