Iowa Congressman Steve King says the way to fight the nation's opioid problem is to get rid of sanctuary cities.

The Fourth District Republican made that claim Thursday during a hearing by the House Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee. King says one reason for the U.S. drug problem is illegal immigrants bringing them into the country.

"It would seem to me that if everybody magically woke up tomorrow morning in their home country they legally reside, it would instantly stop all of the illegal drug distribution in America," King said. "There is an American demand that is bringing about these drug deaths, but it's a distribution that comes across the Rio Grande River to us, and it needs to be addressed both ways."

The title of Thursday's hearing was "The Effect of Sanctuary City Policies on the Ability to Combat the Opioid Epidemic."

Testimony came from some law officers who agreed with King and immigration officials who disagreed with the Iowa congressman.