PRIA Logo™
119-hr-611119th Congress

Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11]

In Committee

Summary

The bill creates a private right of action against sanctuary jurisdictions and ties some federal grants to waiving immunity. It also treats local compliance with Department of Homeland Security detainers as federal cooperation, shifting certain legal responsibilities.

Show full summary
  • Victims and families: People harmed by murder, rape, or any state-defined felony involving an alien who benefited from a sanctuary policy can sue the State or political subdivision for compensatory damages. Plaintiffs have 10 years from the crime or death to file and can recover reasonable attorney and expert fees.
  • State and local governments: Jurisdictions that accept specified federal grants such as Public Works and Economic Development Act grants and Community Development Block Grants must waive immunity for sanctuary-related civil suits. Disaster relief grants are excluded from that waiver.
  • Law enforcement and federal coordination: An entity that complies with a DHS detainer is treated as acting for DHS and must follow federal detainer rules. If actions were consistent with a detainer, liability can shift to the United States under the federal claims framework, but the bill does not protect officials who knowingly violate civil or constitutional rights.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New lawsuits for victims of sanctuary policies

This bill would let certain crime victims, or the victim’s estate or close family, sue a State or city for money. It would cover murder, rape, or any felony (as defined by the State) when an alien was arrested, convicted, or sentenced to at least 1 year for that crime. The suit would apply only if the jurisdiction failed a lawful DHS request and either ignored a detainer or failed to tell DHS about the person’s release. You could seek compensatory damages and, if you win, get reasonable attorney and expert fees. You must file within 10 years of the crime or the death from it, whichever is later. Jurisdictions that accept certain public works or community development block grants would have to waive immunity for these suits, but disaster CDBG grants are excluded. The bill defines a “sanctuary jurisdiction” by limits on sharing status information or honoring DHS detainers, but it would not count policies that protect victims or witnesses who come forward.

Detainer arrests shift lawsuits to federal government

If enacted, local officers who follow a DHS detainer would be treated as acting for DHS and must follow federal rules. In lawsuits over a detainer-based arrest or hold, the State or city would not be liable for actions taken in line with the detainer. The officer would be treated as a federal employee, and the United States would be the defendant under the Federal Tort Claims Act. This would not protect anyone who knowingly violates civil or constitutional rights.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11]

NC • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5]

    VA • R

    Sponsored 2/6/2025

  • Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 12/18/2025

  • Rep. Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 12/23/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation