HR611-119

What This Bill Does

The Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025 defines sanctuary jurisdictions and sanctuary-related civil actions, creates a damages remedy for victims of certain crimes, and changes liability rules for detainer compliance. A sanctuary jurisdiction is a State or political subdivision that restricts immigration-status information sharing or compliance with Department of Homeland Security detainer or release-notification requests, except for policies protecting crime victims or witnesses. A victim of murder, rape, or a State-defined felony, or specified family members if the victim is deceased or permanently incapacitated, may sue a State or political subdivision for compensatory damages when the jurisdiction failed to comply with a lawful DHS request, detainer, or release notice and the alien benefited from the sanctuary policy. Claims may be brought up to 10 years after the crime or resulting death, and prevailing plaintiffs may recover attorney and expert fees. Jurisdictions accepting specified Economic Development Administration grants or non-disaster CDBG grants must waive immunity for sanctuary-related actions. Conversely, State and local officials who comply with DHS detainers are deemed DHS agents, receive liability protection for compliant actions, and the United States is substituted as defendant in qualifying proceedings, while knowing civil or constitutional rights violations remain unprotected.

Who Benefits and How

Victims of murder, rape, or felonies involving aliens who benefited from sanctuary policies benefit from a new compensatory-damages lawsuit. Estates, survivors, and heirs benefit because they may sue when the victim is deceased or permanently incapacitated. Prevailing plaintiffs benefit from attorney-fee and expert-fee recovery. State and local officers who comply with DHS detainers benefit from federal-agent treatment and substitution of the United States as defendant. DHS immigration enforcement benefits from stronger incentives for State and local detainer compliance.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Sanctuary jurisdictions must face damages suits, fee awards, and immunity waivers if they accept specified federal grants. States and local governments receiving EDA grants or non-disaster CDBG grants must waive immunity for sanctuary-related civil actions. State and local officials must comply with DHS detainer and release-notification requests to obtain the bill's liability protections. The United States must defend substituted Federal Tort Claims Act litigation for compliant detainer actions. Jurisdictions with sanctuary policies risk higher litigation costs and grant-condition exposure.

Key Provisions

• Defines sanctuary jurisdictions and sanctuary-related civil actions tied to DHS detainer and release-notification requests.
• Creates a compensatory-damages action for victims and specified family members harmed by an alien who benefited from a sanctuary policy.
• Requires immunity waivers as a condition of specified EDA and non-disaster CDBG grants.
• Provides attorney-fee and expert-fee recovery for prevailing plaintiffs.
• Treats State and local detainer compliance as federal-agent action and substitutes the United States as defendant.
• Preserves liability for knowing civil or constitutional rights violations.