Sanctuary City Accountability Act

The "Sanctuary City Accountability Act" introduces a new private right of action within the Immigration and Nationality Act, enabling U.S. nationals to pursue legal action against jurisdictions deemed to be "sanctuary jurisdictions." This allows individuals to seek injunctive relief or compensatory damages if an alien commits a crime against them or an immediate family member while located in such a jurisdiction, or any jurisdiction to which the alien later relocates. A sanctuary jurisdiction is specifically defined as any state or local government with policies or practices that obstruct immigration enforcement and shield criminals from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These practices include refusing or prohibiting compliance with ICE detainers, imposing unreasonable conditions on detainer compliance, denying ICE access to interview incarcerated aliens, or otherwise impeding communication with federal immigration officers. However, a unit of local government cannot be held liable if it is enforcing a law or policy imposed by the state in which it is located.