Sanctuary City Elimination Act
Sponsored By: Senator Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced
Summary
Would limit federal funding to jurisdictions defined as 'sanctuary jurisdictions'. It would also assume detainer authority for compliant local officers and let states seek withholding or reallocation of federal grants when an alien released by a jurisdiction later commits a crime in another State.
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- Families and local communities: Jurisdictions labeled as sanctuary could have federal grants and loans limited or withheld across many programs, including arts and humanities, K-12 education, higher education STEM, environmental and community development, brownfields, and pollution grants.
- Local law enforcement and officials: The bill would treat officers who comply with detainers as agents of the Department of Homeland Security for detainer purposes. It provides immunity for many actions under detainers while preserving claims for civil and constitutional rights violations.
- States and victims: State attorneys general and the State where a crime occurred would be able to sue in federal court to obtain injunctive relief to withhold or reallocate covered federal funds and loans when an alien released by a sanctuary jurisdiction later commits a crime in another State.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Cutting federal grants to sanctuaries
If enacted, the bill would define any State or local government as a "sanctuary jurisdiction" if it bars sharing immigration status information or limits compliance with certain DHS detainer requests. That label would make those States or localities ineligible for many federal grants. Covered programs named in the bill include K–12 education allocations, higher education STEM training grants, National Environmental Education Act grants (with at least 25% set aside for small grants), Economic Development Administration grants and technical assistance, Clean Water Act grants and allotments, and grants from the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities. Institutions or projects located in a jurisdiction labeled a sanctuary would be unable to get those covered federal awards.
State AGs can seek fund withholding
If enacted, the bill would let a State attorney general sue in federal court on behalf of an injured person when an alien released by a sanctuary jurisdiction later commits a crime in another State. The AG could seek an injunction ordering federal officials to withhold or reallocate covered grants and loans from the releasing State or local government. This creates a legal path for one State to obtain withholding or reallocation of federal funds from another State or political subdivision.
Liability protection for detainer cooperation
If enacted, the bill would treat State or local officers who follow certain DHS detainer requests as acting as agents of DHS. Those officers and their jurisdictions would get federal-authority status for detainer actions and broad liability protection, with the United States substituted as defendant in many cases. The provision also says it does not protect anyone who knowingly violates civil or constitutional rights.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cornyn, John [R-TX]
TX • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
WY • R
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
SC • R
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
WY • R
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
ND • R
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]
MO • R
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
SC • R
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov