Thomas Tillis (R-NC)
Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities and Fallen Law Enforcement Act of 2026
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities and Fallen Law Enforcement Act of 2026," aims to provide legal recourse for victims harmed by sanctuary jurisdiction policies. It establishes a private right of action for individuals who suffer from crimes committed by aliens that benefited from such policies. Additionally, the legislation seeks to increase penalties for crimes committed against law enforcement officers. The bill includes provisions regarding the cooperation between federal and local law enforcement. Finally, it mandates a report from the Attorney General regarding prosecutions resulting from these new penalties.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +6
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill increases federal oversight by requiring local jurisdictions to cooperate with federal detainers and waiving their immunity.
- Scored +5
Does this shorten or soften prison sentences?
It establishes harsher mandatory minimum sentences for violent crimes committed against law enforcement officers.
- Scored +4
Does this tighten control of the border?
The bill strengthens federal-local cooperation regarding the detention and identification of aliens.
The opposite· 3 of 6
- Scored -7
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The bill curtails state and local autonomy by mandating cooperation with federal immigration policies and creating liability for sanctuary-related actions.
- Scored -6
Would immigrants be better off under this?
The bill targets sanctuary policies that facilitate the presence of certain aliens and increases enforcement measures.
- Scored -5
Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this?
The bill increases the likelihood of detention and prosecution for aliens and impacts jurisdictions that provide certain services to these communities.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Legal Recourse for Victims: Individuals, or their families if the victim is deceased or incapacitated, can bring civil actions for compensatory damages if they are victims of murder, rape, or specific felonies involving an alien who benefited from sanctuary policies (Section 3(a)(1)).
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Recovery of Legal Costs: Prevailing plaintiffs in civil actions under this bill are entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees and expert fees as part of their litigation costs (Section 3(a)(3)).
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Increased Penalties for Assaults on Officers: Law enforcement officers may receive enhanced protection through stricter sentencing, such as a minimum of 20 years of imprisonment for acts resulting in serious injury if certain conditions regarding interstate commerce are met (Section 5(a)(1)).
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Increased Penalties for Murders of Officers: The bill seeks to ensure that the murder of Federal, State, or local law enforcement officers is treated with the same severity as first-degree murder under specific circumstances (Section 5(a)(2)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Liability for Local Jurisdictions: States or political subdivisions that accept certain federal grants must waive their immunity regarding sanctuary-related civil actions (Section 3(b)(1)).
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Legal Risks for Local Officials: While the bill provides some protections, it specifies that nothing provides immunity to any person who knowingly violates the civil or constitutional rights of an individual (Section 4(c)).
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Substitution of Defendants in Legal Proceedings: In certain legal proceedings challenging the seizure or detention of an individual, the United States would be substituted as the defendant, and specific federal law would provide the exclusive remedy (Section 4(b)(2)(B-C)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill targets sanctuary policies that facilitate the presence of certain aliens and increases enforcement measures. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill increases the likelihood of detention and prosecution for aliens and impacts jurisdictions that provide certain services to these communities. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Urban residents in sanctuary cities may face shifts in local government funding and law enforcement priorities.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this shorten or soften prison sentences? — It establishes harsher mandatory minimum sentences for violent crimes committed against law enforcement officers. Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill strengthens federal-local cooperation regarding the detention and identification of aliens. Does this change how police departments operate? — The bill increases penalties for crimes against officers and mandates cooperation with federal authorities, which may be viewed as a reduction in local police autonomy.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill increases federal oversight by requiring local jurisdictions to cooperate with federal detainers and waiving their immunity. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill curtails state and local autonomy by mandating cooperation with federal immigration policies and creating liability for sanctuary-related actions. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill alters legal procedures for challenging detentions by substituting the United States as the defendant.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country? — The bill facilitates increased information exchange between local and federal agencies regarding immigration status.
- 2/5/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.