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Published on January 23, 2025
Senator Thom Tillis and GOP Colleagues Reintroduce Bill Targeting Sanctuary City Policies in North CarolinaSource: Wikipedia/United States Congress, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, along with several GOP colleagues, has reintroduced the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act—a piece of legislation targeting sanctuary policies and aiming to provide legal recourse for victims affected by the release of undocumented immigrants from such jurisdictions. According to a press release from Tillis's office on Tillis's senate website, the lawmakers advocate for more rigorous enforcement of immigration laws by local authorities, criticizing policies that they believe put community safety in jeopardy.

“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,” Senator Tillis stated in the press release. Tillis, aligning with former President Trump's stance on illegal immigration, suggests that liberal politicians want to put political ideology ahead of the safety of their constituents. Notably, a companion legislation is being introduced by Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) in the House of Representatives, asserting that sanctuary cities have "shielded" criminal undocumented immigrants from legal consequences.

The proposed legislation would essentially give individuals and their families, who are victims of crimes such as murder, rape, or felonies as defined by the state, a private right of action. This recourse would be available against states or local subdivisions that refuse to comply with federal law enforcement detainer requests from the Department of Homeland Security. The bill also requires those entities desiring certain federal grants to waive immunity. Louisiana's Senator Bill Cassidy pointed out the perceived failures of the last administration to secure the U.S. border and how, in his view, sanctuary cities exacerbated threats to public safety.

Alabama's Senator Katie Britt accentuated the intent to work with the Trump Administration, “Senate Republicans are committed to working with the Trump Administration to restore commonsense immigration enforcement and border policies to protect our nation. The Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act is the next step in this process—forcing sanctuary cities and states to face consequences for the devastating effects of their open border policies,” as indicated by her statement obtained through Tillis's press release. She condemned the radical sanctuary cities for offering criminal illegal aliens a safe haven. In solidarity, Texas Senator Ted Cruz emphasized that the bill sends a clear message that cities prioritizing politics over public safety will face consequences. Cruz stressed Texas's particular vulnerability due to its southern border location while advocating for strengthened local and federal law enforcement cooperation.

The full text of the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act can be read via the provided link to Senator Tillis's official senate page.