Bills · HR 611
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 611Immigration
Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025
INTRO JAN 22· LAST ACTION JAN 22
READING
6MIN
COSPONSORS
3
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters to voters because it directly impacts the ongoing national debate over immigration enforcement and local control. If passed, it would shift the legal and financial burden for certain crimes committed by immigrants onto local and state governments that have chosen not to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities. This could lead to significant financial costs for these jurisdictions and likely pressure them to change their "sanctuary" policies.
For victims of crime, it would create a new avenue for seeking justice and compensation. For taxpayers, it could mean their local or state governments face substantial legal fees and payouts, potentially impacting local budgets. If it doesn't become law, the legal landscape regarding liability for "sanctuary" policies would remain unchanged, meaning victims would not have this specific federal cause of action against local governments, and local governments would retain existing immunities.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Allows individuals harmed by certain serious crimes committed by an immigrant to sue a state or local government with a "sanctuary policy."
This provision creates a new legal pathway for victims to seek financial damages from local governments.
PROVISION 02
Defines a "sanctuary jurisdiction" as one that restricts sharing immigration status information or complying with federal detainer requests, with an exception for victims/witnesses.
This definition is central to identifying which governments would be subject to lawsuits under the bill.
PROVISION 03
Requires state and local governments that accept certain federal grants to waive their legal immunity against these types of lawsuits.
This provision uses federal funding as leverage to ensure local governments can be sued, potentially altering their policies.
PROVISION 04
Treats state and local officials who comply with federal immigration detainers as federal agents and shifts legal liability to the federal government in challenges to such actions.
This provision offers significant legal protection to cooperating jurisdictions, encouraging them to assist federal immigration enforcement.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 3
R· North Carolina
YRS IN OFFICE
3
BILLS LED
15
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 3 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
3 EVENTSJAN 22
Introduced in House
JAN 22
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
JAN 22
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 611
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJan 22, 2025
Last actionJan 22, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 22, 2025
House BillHR 611Immigration
Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025
INTRODUCED JAN 22, 2025· LAST ACTION JAN 22, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
6 min
COSPONSORS
3
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
