Shortly after President Donald Trump returned to office, two North Carolina lawmakers—U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards and Senator Thom Tillis—reintroduced a bill that could shake up how sanctuary cities operate. The proposed law, called the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act, aims to give victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants the power to sue local governments that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
This move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to crack down on illegal immigration, including tougher rules for sanctuary cities, expanded ICE operations, and stricter enforcement across the board.
At the heart of the bill is a simple message: if a city chooses not to cooperate with immigration enforcement—and that decision leads to someone getting hurt—they should be held accountable. The bill would allow victims or their families to seek damages in court if a city’s refusal to honor ICE detainers leads to a crime.
“Sanctuary cities endanger public safety when they ignore ICE requests and release individuals with serious criminal records back into the community,” Edwards and Tillis said in a joint statement. “This bill ensures that if someone gets hurt because of that, the city can be held responsible.”
Currently, an estimated 650,000 undocumented immigrants with criminal records live in the U.S. The lawmakers argue that many of these individuals remain in the country because sanctuary cities shield them from deportation, often by refusing to notify ICE or hold individuals when asked.
Representative Edwards emphasized that this issue isn’t just about politics—it’s about safety. “For far too long, sanctuary cities have allowed dangerous individuals to walk free. This bill is about protecting American families and holding local governments accountable for putting lives at risk.”
Senator Tillis echoed that sentiment. “We’ve seen time and again how local officials ignore ICE and release violent offenders. That can’t continue. I fully support President Trump’s efforts to secure our borders and will work with him to stop cities from putting politics ahead of public safety.”
If passed, the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act would mark a major change in how immigration law is enforced at the local level. It would also send a clear message: cities that choose to shield criminal offenders from federal authorities must be prepared to face legal consequences.