Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025

This bill, titled the "Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025," creates a civil remedy for individuals harmed by certain crimes committed by aliens who have benefited from "sanctuary policies." It establishes a private right of action allowing victims of murder, rape, or specific felonies, or their families, to sue a State or political subdivision if it failed to comply with a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detainer request or notify DHS about an alien's release. Plaintiffs can seek compensatory damages and recover attorney's fees if they prevail. A sanctuary jurisdiction is defined as any state or local entity with a policy restricting government officials from sharing immigration status information or complying with lawful DHS detainer requests, with an exception for policies protecting victims or witnesses of crimes. To facilitate these lawsuits, the bill mandates that any State or political subdivision accepting certain federal grants, such as those for public works or community development, must waive immunity for sanctuary-related civil actions. This waiver ensures that these jurisdictions can be held accountable in court. Furthermore, the bill aims to ensure cooperation between federal and local law enforcement by deeming states or political subdivisions that comply with DHS detainers as agents of the Department of Homeland Security . It provides liability protection for these entities and their officers: if sued for actions taken in accordance with a detainer, the state or local entity is not liable, and the United States government will be substituted as the defendant. This provision is intended to encourage local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts, though it explicitly states that it does not provide immunity for knowingly violating civil or constitutional rights.