Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, joined by five Senate Republicans, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced legislation Tuesday that would let citizens sue sanctuary jurisdictions for crimes committed against them by illegal aliens.
The bill provides “a private right of civil action for the victims of sanctuary jurisdictions, allowing them to bring an action for compensatory damages against the sanctuary jurisdiction as a result of a violent crime committed by an illegal immigrant.”
It’s disturbing to see sheriffs across North Carolina establish sanctuary jurisdictions, releasing dangerous individuals back into communities while refusing to notify federal immigration officials,” Tillis said.
“If politicians want to prioritize reckless sanctuary policies over public safety, they should also be willing to provide just compensation for the victims,” he said.
The legislation defines a sanctuary jurisdiction as any state or political subdivision (including a county or city) that has a statute, ordinance, policy, or practice that restricts a government official or entity from receiving or maintaining information about the immigration status of an individual, including refusing to comply with lawful detainer requests made by DHS or the notification of the release of an illegal immigrant. Jurisdiction would not be deemed a “sanctuary jurisdiction” based solely on policies where officials do not share information or comply with detainers for illegal immigrants who come forward as a victim or a witness to a criminal offense.
Graham called the legislation “long overdue” because “there must be consequences for governments and entities that gamble with public safety, refuse to work with federal officials, and refuse to deal with felons here illegally.”
“This legislation empowers individuals who are the victims of these entities and governments’ poor decisions,” he added.
Additionally, Grassley called on those who refuse to comply with federal immigration law to “be held to account by our citizens when such reckless endangerment leads to more violent crime.”
“We are a nation of laws,” Grassley said. “Whether you are a citizen, immigrant or even a local government, disregarding those laws should carry consequences.”
