After visiting the border Tuesday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions stopped outside Phoenix in Litchfield Park to speak to a conference of police chiefs.
Sessions criticized sanctuary cities, though Phoenix is not one, saying local law enforcement should want to expel what he calls criminal immigrants from their communities.
The attorney general echoed what he said at the border about cracking down on illegal immigration, and making prosecution a priority if someone attacks a federal officer.
"We need to send a message that if you attack one of our officers, you’re gonna get hammered, we’re going to throw the book at you in that regard,” Sessions said.
That statement was met with applause.
Sessions said he sent guidance throughout the Justice Department to review and promote principles that support local policing and help create federal and local partnerships.
“It’s the policy of this administration to reduce crime in America, not to preside over an increase in crime. And that means you, a lot more than me. So I’m dependent on you if we’re going to do that," he said.
Sessions’ remarks echoed the ideas he spoke about at the border — harsher immigration enforcement, supporting federal border agents and expanding prosecutions on what quote illegal immigrants.
