WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced two bills to stop sanctuary cities and keep our communities safe from the failed policies of liberal politicians that have allowed violent criminal illegal immigrants to continue committing crimes. At the federal level, President Biden has implemented a policy of mass releasing illegal immigrants at our southern border, leading to almost 8.8 million encounters with illegal immigrants during his administration. In addition, there have been over 1.85 million illegal immigrant “gotaways” during the past three fiscal years who made it across the border without being caught.
The first bill, the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act, would fight sanctuary policies and provide justice for the victims and their families who are harmed when sanctuary jurisdictions put public safety in danger. Specifically, this legislation establishes a private right of action for any individual, spouse, parent, or child who is a victim of murder, rape, or any felony (as defined by the State), to bring an action against a state or political subdivision of a state if the entity declined to honor a lawful immigration detainer request for an alien by the Department of Homeland Security. In addition, this legislation would require a state or political subdivision of a state to waive immunity as a condition of receiving certain federal grants.
The second bill, the Immigration Detainer Enforcement Act, would clarify DHS detainer authority, clearly establish the authority of states and localities to maintain custody in cases in which a detainer has been issued, and incentivize cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the department through the reimbursement of certain detention, technology, and litigation-related costs.
“We’ve seen what happens when President Biden refuses to secure the border and cities harbor criminals illegally. Neither work to keep our communities safe,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Our efforts serve as a needed backstop for failed border policy.”
“For 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, instead releasing dangerous criminals back into the communities and putting innocent lives at risk,” said Senator Tillis. “It is clear President Biden and liberal politicians want to prioritize reckless sanctuary policies over public safety. It is time for Congress to step in and put an end to this madness by holding sanctuary cities accountable and empowering ICE to gain custody of criminal illegal immigrants so they can’t cause more harm and violence.”
Cassidy and Tillis are joined by U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), Tim Scott (R-SC), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Tom Cotton (R-AR) in cosponsoring the bills. U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) are co-sponsors of the Immigration Detainer Enforcement Act.
The introduction of these two bills comes following the brutal murder of Laken Riley while she was running on the UGA campus by Jose Ibarra, who had been arrested twice before but released before a detainer could be issued. Other additional incidents involving sanctuary city policies include:
- On February 26, 2024, Nilson Granados-Trejo was charged with first and second-degree murder of a 2 year-old in Prince George’s County. Twice, Granados-Trejo was arrested, and ICE issued a detainer which was not honored by Montgomery County.
- On February 14, 2024, Stephen Claude Rattigan shot three DC police officers who were serving a warrant for animal cruelty. He had been previously deported and returned to the country illegally.
- On February 8, 2024, Jesus Alejandro Rivas-Figeuroa shot at NYPD officers, shot at a security guard, and shot a tourist. He is also a suspect in a previous gunpoint robbery.
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