In a significant move just days after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, two key North Carolina legislators have reintroduced groundbreaking legislation aimed squarely at the heart of sanctuary city policies. U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) and U.S. Senator Thom Tillis are leading the charge with the reintroduction of the *Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act*, which would allow victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants to sue sanctuary cities that shield these criminals from immigration law enforcement.
This bold move is part of the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on illegal immigration, which includes mass raids, deportations, and aggressive new policies targeting sanctuary cities—jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requests. Under the new legislation, sanctuary cities would face serious consequences, including a loss of federal funding, for their refusal to enforce federal immigration laws.
At the core of the *Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act* is the principle that cities which put the safety of American citizens at risk by harboring criminal illegal immigrants should be held accountable. In a joint press release, Sen. Tillis and Rep. Edwards underscored the danger sanctuary cities pose to public safety by refusing to honor ICE detainer requests or share critical information about illegal immigrants with criminal records.
“Sanctuary cities endanger the public by refusing to abide by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer requests or share information about illegal immigrants who are in custody and have criminal records,” the legislators explained. “These sanctuary jurisdictions have allowed the release of dangerous illegals into communities, compromising public safety.”
This refusal to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement has not only allowed violent criminals to remain in the country, but it has also created a dangerous environment for American families. With nearly 650,000 criminal illegal immigrants in the U.S., the ongoing protection of these individuals by sanctuary cities has led to countless preventable crimes. The *Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act* aims to end that protection, ensuring that cities and local governments can no longer act as safe havens for criminal illegal immigrants.
One of the key provisions of the bill is that it would allow victims and their families to sue sanctuary cities for harm caused by the release of illegal immigrants who have committed violent crimes. Specifically, if a local jurisdiction fails to honor a lawful immigration detainer request made by the Department of Homeland Security, families would have the right to hold those cities accountable for the criminal acts that follow.
Rep. Edwards, who has long been vocal on the dangers of sanctuary cities, made a powerful statement in support of the bill: “Sanctuary cities have shielded many of the nearly 650,000 criminal illegal immigrants in the United States from facing the consequences for their violent crimes against innocent Americans for too many years.” He added, “Sanctuary cities cannot continue to jeopardize Americans’ safety without being held accountable for their role in the illegal immigrant crime crisis we are facing today.”
Sen. Tillis, who is leading the Senate companion bill, echoed Edwards’ sentiments, saying, “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.”
Both legislators voiced their support for President Trump’s efforts to combat illegal immigration and protect American citizens. Sen. Tillis made it clear that he would continue to work alongside the president to ensure that sanctuary cities no longer put politics over public safety. “I am committed to working with President Trump to end illegal immigration and fight sanctuary cities that prioritize reckless, lawless policies over public safety,” Tillis declared.
With the “Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act” President Trump and his GOP allies in Congress are taking a strong stand against the harmful policies of sanctuary cities, ensuring that American families will no longer be put at risk by cities that refuse to enforce immigration law. It is time for these sanctuary cities to face the consequences of their reckless actions—and this legislation is a step in the right direction.