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119-s-685119th Congress

Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act

Sponsored By: Senator Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

Introduced

Summary

Tying federal grant eligibility to DHS detainer compliance. This bill would condition certain federal community and economic development funds on state and local cooperation with Department of Homeland Security detainer requests and defines what counts as a "sanctuary jurisdiction."

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  • State and local officers: Officers who comply with DHS detainers would be treated as agents of DHS for detainer-related actions and largely shielded from civil suits, with the United States substituted as defendant under 28 U.S.C. 1346(b). Protections would not apply if an officer knowingly violates someone's civil or constitutional rights.
  • Local governments labeled "sanctuary jurisdictions": A jurisdiction would be defined as one that restricts sharing immigration status information or refuses DHS detainers, with an exception for victims or witnesses. Such jurisdictions would become ineligible for the listed grants.
  • Federal grants and reallocations: The bill would bar sanctuary jurisdictions from receiving Economic Development Administration grants and Community Development Block Grants, require return of improperly paid amounts, and reallocate funds to non-sanctuary areas. These funding rules would take effect October 1, 2025.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Block federal grants to sanctuary areas

If enacted, the bill would bar certain federal grants from going to places the law calls "sanctuary jurisdictions." That includes Community Development Block Grant (Title I) money and many Economic Development Administration grants. Grantees must not be sanctuaries when they get a grant and must not become sanctuaries during the grant period. If a grantee is a sanctuary during a grant period, the bill would require returning the money and reallocating it to non‑sanctuary places. These funding rules would take effect October 1, 2025.

Local officials treated as federal agents

If enacted, the bill would say that when a State or local official complies with a DHS detainer, that official acts as an agent of DHS. The State or locality would have the authority DHS officers use and would not be liable for detainer-related actions. An officer who followed a detainer would be treated like a federal employee and the United States would be the defendant under 28 U.S.C. 1346(b). The bill would not protect anyone who knowingly violates civil or constitutional rights.

What counts as a sanctuary city

If enacted, the bill would define when a State or local government is a "sanctuary jurisdiction." A place would be a sanctuary if it bars sharing citizenship or immigration status information or refuses certain DHS detainer requests. The bill would not call a place a sanctuary only for refusing to share information or comply with a detainer about someone who comes forward as a crime victim or witness.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]

    MT • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2025

  • Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2025

  • Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]

    OK • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2025

  • Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2025

  • Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2025

  • Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2025

  • Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2025

  • Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2025

  • Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]

    ND • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2025

  • Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2025

  • Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2025

  • Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]

    ND • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2025

  • Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2025

  • Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 2/25/2025

  • Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 3/27/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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