S185Referred to Committee

Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025

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Introduced
In Committee
3
Passed One Chamber
4
Passed Both
5
Signed into Law
119th
Congress
2025-01-22
Introduced
10
Cosponsors
S
ⓘ
Type

Sponsor

Thom Tillis
Thom Tillis
Republican · NC · Senator
Votes with party: 38.4% (297 recorded votes)

Full profile: /officials/T000476

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

Cosponsors (10)

Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.

Latest Action

The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

2025-01-22

Source: Congress.gov

Plain-English Summary

This bill would likely create legal liability for cities and states that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, allowing victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants to sue those jurisdictions for damages. The legislation targets so-called "sanctuary" policies that restrict local police from assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement, aiming to hold local governments financially accountable when immigrants in the country illegally commit crimes.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

Affected Industries

Industries and interest groups with a stake in how this bill is resolved. Compare with each member's outside-money backers on their finance page.

Immigration Restriction

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Subjects

Immigration

Full Bill Text

Verbatim text published on Congress.gov via GovInfo. Use Cmd+F / Ctrl+F to search within this excerpt.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 185 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 185 To provide a civil remedy for individuals harmed by sanctuary jurisdiction policies, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 22, 2025 Mr. Tillis (for himself, Mr. Graham, Mrs. Britt, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Sheehy, Mr. Rounds, and Mr. Budd) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To provide a civil remedy for individuals harmed by sanctuary jurisdiction policies, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Alien.--The term ``alien'' has the meaning given such term in section 101(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(3)). (2) Sanctuary jurisdiction.-- (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term ``sanctuary jurisdiction'' means any State or political subdivision of a State that has in effect a statute, ordinance, policy, or practice that prohibits or restricts any government entity or official from-- (i) sending, receiving, maintaining, or exchanging with any Federal, State, or local government entity information regarding the citizenship or immigration status of any alien; or (ii) complying with a request lawfully made by the Department of Homeland Security under section 236 or 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226 and 1357) to comply with a detainer for, or notify about the release of, an alien. (B) Exception.--A State or political subdivision of a State shall not be deemed a sanctuary jurisdiction based solely on having a policy whereby its officials will not share information regarding, or comply with a request made by the Department of Homeland Security under section 236 or 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226 and 1357) to comply with a detainer regarding, an alien who comes forward as a victim or a witness to a criminal offense. (3) Sanctuary policy.--The term ``sanctuary policy'' means a statute, ordinance, policy, or practice referred to in paragraph (2)(A). (4) Sanctuary-related civil action.--The term ``sanctuary- related civil action'' means a civil action brought against a sanctuary jurisdiction by an individual (or the estate, survivors, or heirs of such individual) who-- (A) is injured or harmed by an alien who benefitted from a sanctuary policy of such sanctuary jurisdiction; and (B) would not have been so injured or harmed if such alien had not been so benefitted. SEC. 3. CIVIL ACTION FOR HARM BY AN ALIEN THAT BENEFITTED FROM A SANCTUARY POLICY. (a) Private Right of Action.-- (1) Cause of action.--Any individual, or a spouse, parent, or child of such individual (if the individual is deceased or permanently incapacitated), who is the victim of a murder, rape, or any felony (as defined by the State in which the crime occurred) for which an alien has been arrested, convicted, or sentenced to a term of imprisonment of at least 1 year, may bring an action for compensatory damages against a State or a political subdivision of a State, in the appropriate Federal or State court, if such State or political subdivision failed-- (A) to comply with a request with respect to an alien that was lawfully made by the Department of Homeland Security pursuant to section 236 or 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act…
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(8 U.S.C. 1226 and 1357); and (B)(i) to comply with a detainer for such alien; or (ii) to notify the Department about the release of such alien. (2) Statute of limitations.--An action described in paragraph (1) may not be brought later than 10 years after the later of-- (A) the occurrence of the crime referred to in paragraph (1); or (B) the death of a person that resulted from such crime. (3) Attorney's fee and other costs.--In any action or proceeding under paragraph (1), the court shall allow a prevailing plaintiff to recover a reasonable attorney's fee as part of the costs of the litigation, which shall include any applicable expert fees. (b) Waiver of Immunity.-- (1) In general.--Any State or political subdivision of a State that accepts a grant described in paragraph (2) from the Federal Government shall agree, as a condition of receiving such grant, to waive any immunity of such State or political subdivision relating to a sanctuary-related civil action. (2) Grants described.--The grants described in this paragraph are-- (A) a grant for public works and economic development under section 201(a) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3141(a)); (B) a grant for planning and administrative expenses under section 203(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3143(a)); (C) a supplemental grant under section 205(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3145(b)); (D) a grant for training, research, and technical assistance under section 207(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3147(a)); and (E) except as provided in paragraph (3), a community development block grant made pursuant to title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.). (3) Exception.--Grants described in paragraph (2)(E) shall not include any disaster relief grants to address the damage in an area for which the President has declared a disaster under title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.). SEC. 4. ENSURING COOPERATION BETWEEN FEDERAL AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO SAFEGUARD OUR COMMUNITIES. (a) Authority To Cooperate With Federal Officials.--A State, a political subdivision of a State, or an officer, employee, or agent of such State or political subdivision that complies with a detainer issued by the Department of Homeland Security pursuant to section 236 or 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226 and 1357)-- (1) shall be deemed to be acting as an agent of the Department of Homeland Security; and (2) shall comply with section 287(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1357(d)) and section 287.5(d) of title 8, Code of Federal Regulations. (b) Legal Proceedings.--In any legal proceeding brought against a State, a political subdivision of State, or an officer, employee, or agent of such State or political subdivision challenging the legality of the seizure or detention of an individual pursuant to a detainer issued by the Department of Homeland Security under section 236 or 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226 and 1357)-- (1) the State or political subdivision of a State shall not be liable for any action taken in accordance with the detainer; and (2) if the actions of the officer, employee, or agent of the State or political subdivision were taken in accordance with the detainer-- (A) the officer, employee, or agent shall be deemed-- (i) to be an employee of the Federal Government and an investigative or law enforcement officer; and (ii) to have been acting within the scope of his or her employment under section 1346(b) of title 28, United States Code, and chapter 171 of such title; (B) section 1346(b) of title 28, United States Code, shall provide the exclusive remedy for the plaintiff; and (C) the United States shall be substituted as the defendant in such proceeding. (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to provide immunity to any person who knowingly violates the civil or constitutional rights of an individual. <all>
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