I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 611 
To provide a civil remedy for individuals harmed by sanctuary jurisdiction 
policies, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 22, 2025 
Mr. EDWARDS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure, and Financial Services, for a period to be sub-
sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide a civil remedy for individuals harmed by 
sanctuary jurisdiction policies, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Justice for Victims 
of Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:39 Feb 18, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H611.IH
H611
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(1) ALIEN.—The term ‘‘alien’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 101(a)(3) of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(3)). 
(2) SANCTUARY JURISDICTION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the term ‘‘sanctuary juris-
diction’’ means any State or political subdivi-
sion of a State that has in effect a statute, ordi-
nance, policy, or practice that prohibits or re-
stricts any government entity or official from— 
(i) sending, receiving, maintaining, or 
exchanging with any Federal, State, or 
local government entity information re-
garding the citizenship or immigration sta-
tus of any alien; or 
(ii) complying with a request lawfully 
made by the Department of Homeland Se-
curity under section 236 or 287 of the Im-
migration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1226 and 1357) to comply with a detainer 
for, or notify about the release of, an alien. 
(B) EXCEPTION.—A State or political sub-
division of a State shall not be deemed a sanc-
tuary jurisdiction based solely on having a pol-
icy whereby its officials will not share informa-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:39 Feb 18, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H611.IH
H611
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
tion regarding, or comply with a request made 
by the Department of Homeland Security under 
section 236 or 287 of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226 and 1357) to com-
ply with a detainer regarding, an alien who 
comes forward as a victim or a witness to a 
criminal offense. 
(3) SANCTUARY POLICY.—The term ‘‘sanctuary 
policy’’ means a statute, ordinance, policy, or prac-
tice referred to in paragraph (2)(A). 
(4) SANCTUARY-RELATED CIVIL ACTION.—The 
term ‘‘sanctuary-related civil action’’ means a civil 
action brought against a sanctuary jurisdiction by 
an individual (or the estate, survivors, or heirs of 
such individual) who— 
(A) is injured or harmed by an alien who 
benefitted from a sanctuary policy of such sanc-
tuary jurisdiction; and 
(B) would not have been so injured or 
harmed if such alien had not been so benefitted. 
SEC. 3. CIVIL ACTION FOR HARM BY AN ALIEN THAT BENE-
FITTED FROM A SANCTUARY POLICY. 
(a) PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.— 
(1) CAUSE OF ACTION.—Any individual, or a 
spouse, parent, or child of such individual (if the in-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:39 Feb 18, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H611.IH
H611
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
dividual is deceased or permanently incapacitated), 
who is the victim of a murder, rape, or any felony 
(as defined by the State in which the crime oc-
curred) for which an alien has been arrested, con-
victed, or sentenced to a term of imprisonment of at 
least 1 year, may bring an action for compensatory 
damages against a State or a political subdivision of 
a State, in the appropriate Federal or State court, 
if such State or political subdivision failed— 
(A) to comply with a request with respect 
to an alien that was lawfully made by the De-
partment of Homeland Security pursuant to 
section 236 or 287 of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226 and 1357); and 
(B)(i) to comply with a detainer for such 
alien; or 
(ii) to notify the Department about the re-
lease of such alien. 
(2) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.—An action de-
scribed in paragraph (1) may not be brought later 
than 10 years after the later of— 
(A) the occurrence of the crime referred to 
in paragraph (1); or 
(B) the death of a person that resulted 
from such crime. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:39 Feb 18, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H611.IH
H611
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS