Washington, D.C. — Today, Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Katie Britt (R-AL), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), James Lankford (R-OK), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act.
The bill would allow the victims of murders, rapes, and other felonies committed by illegal aliens to sue sanctuary states or cities that failed to honor a detainer request. The legislation also bans certain federal grants to sanctuary jurisdictions.
Senator Budd twice led this legislation in the U.S. House in 2019 and 2021.
Senator Budd said in a statement:
“This is a matter of public safety and the rule of law. It’s long past time that cities who refuse to enforce our immigration laws face legal consequences. When laws are not enforced, preventable tragedies occur. That has to stop. Our bill will put lawless cities on notice and make sure they enforce our laws and keep our streets safe. I’d like to thank Senator Tillis for leading these efforts.”
Senator Tillis said:
“For far too long, we have watched local jurisdictions in North Carolina and across the country ignore the lawful notification and detainer requests made by ICE agents and instead release dangerous criminals back into their communities, putting innocent lives at risk. I am committed to working with President Trump to end illegal immigration and fight sanctuary cities that prioritize reckless, lawless policies over public safety. It is clear that liberal politicians want to put political ideology ahead of the safety of their constituents. It is time for Congress to step in and hold sanctuary cities accountable.”
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