Republican Senators Team Up To Give Victims of ‘Sanctuary Cities’ Chance To Seek Damages
In this file photo, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina speaks to reporters in the Senate basement before a weekly policy luncheon on April 2, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Zach Gibson / Getty Images)
By Randy DeSoto
Published July 10, 2019 at 7:20am
A group of Republican senators introduced legislation on Tuesday that will make sanctuary jurisdictions subject to civil lawsuits by the victims of crimes perpetrated by illegal immigrants in the U.S.
Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina introduced the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act, which is being co-sponsored by his GOP colleagues Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Ted Cruz of Texas, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst of Iowa, and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.
According to a news release from Tillis, the legislation “holds sanctuary jurisdictions accountable for failing to comply with lawful detainer and release notification requests made by federal authorities.”
The Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act would create a private right to 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.”
Those jurisdictions which refuse to waive their right to governmental immunity from civil litigation would be subject to the withholding of federal funds from the Community Development Block Grant and other grants.
Tillis noted in Mecklenberg County alone (which encompasses the city of Charlotte, North Carolina) there have been more than 20 “troubling instances” of the sheriff’s office refusing to comply with federal detainer requests in relation to criminal illegal immigrants so far this year.
“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 continued. “The Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act is commonsense legislation that will enhance public safety and hold sanctuary jurisdictions accountable for their refusal to cooperate with federal law enforcement.”
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