In a notable action taken shortly after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, two prominent legislators from North Carolina have reintroduced significant legislation targeting sanctuary city policies. U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) and U.S. Senator Thom Tillis are spearheading this initiative with the reintroduction of the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act, which would empower victims of crimes perpetrated by illegal immigrants to file lawsuits against sanctuary cities that protect these offenders from immigration law enforcement.
This assertive action is part of the Trump administration’s extensive efforts to combat illegal immigration, which encompasses mass raids, deportations, and stringent new policies aimed at sanctuary cities—areas that decline to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requests. According to the proposed legislation, sanctuary cities would incur significant penalties, including the loss of federal funding, for their noncompliance with federal immigration laws.
The Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act fundamentally asserts that cities that jeopardize the safety of American citizens by harboring criminal illegal immigrants must be held responsible. In a collaborative press release, Sen. Tillis and Rep. Edwards highlighted the threats that sanctuary cities pose to public safety by neglecting to comply with ICE detainer requests or to provide essential information regarding illegal immigrants with criminal histories.
“Sanctuary cities jeopardize public safety by failing to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer requests or to share information about illegal immigrants who are detained and possess criminal records,” the legislators stated. “These sanctuary jurisdictions have permitted the release of dangerous illegal immigrants into communities, thereby compromising public safety.
This refusal to collaborate with federal immigration enforcement has not only permitted violent offenders to stay in the country, but it has also fostered a perilous atmosphere for American families. With nearly 650,000 criminal illegal immigrants residing in the U.S., the continued protection of these individuals by sanctuary cities has resulted in numerous preventable offenses. The Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act seeks to terminate that protection, ensuring that cities and local governments can no longer serve as safe havens for criminal illegal immigrants.
A significant provision of the bill is that it would empower victims and their families to sue sanctuary cities for damages incurred due to the release of illegal immigrants who have perpetrated violent crimes. Specifically, if a local jurisdiction neglects to comply with a lawful immigration detainer request issued by the Department of Homeland Security, families would have the right to hold those cities responsible for the subsequent criminal acts.
Rep. Edwards, who has consistently voiced concerns regarding the threats posed by sanctuary cities, made a compelling statement in favor of the bill: “Sanctuary cities have protected many of the nearly 650,000 criminal illegal immigrants in the United States from facing the repercussions for their violent crimes against innocent Americans for far too long.” He further stated, “Sanctuary cities cannot continue to endanger Americans’ safety without being held accountable for their involvement in the illegal immigrant crime crisis we are confronting today.”
Sen. Tillis, who is spearheading the Senate companion bill, reiterated Edwards’ views, asserting, “For far too long, we have observed local jurisdictions in North Carolina and throughout the nation disregard the lawful notifications and detainer requests made by ICE agents and instead release dangerous criminals back into their communities, thereby endangering innocent lives.
Both legislators expressed their endorsement of President Trump’s initiatives aimed at addressing illegal immigration and safeguarding American citizens.
Sen. Tillis emphasized his commitment to collaborating with the president to guarantee that sanctuary cities cease prioritizing politics over public safety. “I am dedicated to partnering with President Trump to eliminate illegal immigration and combat sanctuary cities that favor irresponsible, unlawful policies over public safety,” Tillis asserted.
Through the “Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act,” President Trump and his Republican allies in Congress are firmly opposing the detrimental policies of sanctuary cities, ensuring that American families are no longer endangered by municipalities that refuse to uphold immigration laws. It is imperative that these sanctuary cities confront the repercussions of their reckless behavior—and this legislation represents a positive advancement.
