Edwards introduces bill to demand justice for victims of illegal immigrant crime in sanctuary cities
U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) re-introduced the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act to provide justice for victims who are harmed by an illegal immigrant due to sanctuary city policies. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) is leading the Senate companion bill.
Congressman Edwards said, “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. 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. The Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act that I’m re-introducing will finally hold these communities responsible when their harmful, illegal policies result in a crime against an American citizen, and will allow the victim to take legal action against counties, cities, or towns for the dangerous policies that directly led to their harm.”
“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,” said Senator Tillis. “I am committed to working with President Trump to end illegal immigration and fight sanctuary cities that prioritize reckless, lawless policies over public safety. It is clear that liberal politicians want to put political ideology ahead of the safety of their constituents. It is time for Congress to step in and hold sanctuary cities accountable.”
Sanctuary cities endanger the public by refusing to abide by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests or share information about illegal immigrants who are in custody and have criminal records. These sanctuary jurisdictions have allowed the release of dangerous illegals into communities, compromising public safety.
The Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act would withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities if they continue to refuse to enforce federal immigration law and put American lives at risk. The bill would also allow a victim or victim’s family to bring a lawsuit against a state or local government if the entity failed to honor a lawful immigration detainer request made by the Department of Homeland Security, which allowed the violent illegal immigrant to remain in America and commit the crime.