Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3881
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-10: 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-29T19:55:30Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act" (H.R. 3881) aims to promote cooperation between state and local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, specifically the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It seeks to protect communities from violent criminals and suspected terrorists who are illegally present in the U.S. by allowing state and local officials to comply with federal immigration detainers (requests to hold individuals for potential deportation) without legal risks, while penalizing "sanctuary jurisdictions" by restricting their access to certain federal grants.
Key Provisions
- Cooperation with Federal Detainers (Section 2):
- State, local governments, or their officers complying with a DHS detainer under the Immigration and Nationality Act (which allows DHS to detain individuals for immigration violations) are treated as agents of DHS and gain the same enforcement powers as federal officers.
- In lawsuits challenging such detentions:
- No legal liability for the state or local entity if they followed the detainer.
- Officers are considered federal employees acting in their official capacity, making the U.S. government the defendant under the Federal Tort Claims Act (a law allowing suits against the federal government for certain harms caused by its employees).
- This provides the sole legal remedy for plaintiffs.
- Exception: No protection if someone knowingly violates a person's civil or constitutional rights (e.g., rights protected by the U.S. Constitution, like due process).
- Definition of Sanctuary Jurisdiction (Section 3):
- A "sanctuary jurisdiction" is any state or local government with laws, policies, or practices that block sharing information on an individual's immigration status (legal or illegal) with federal, state, or local authorities, or that prevent complying with DHS detainer requests or release notifications.
- Exception: A jurisdiction is not a sanctuary if its policy only limits sharing or compliance when the individual is a victim or witness to a crime (to encourage crime reporting).
- Withholding Federal Funds (Section 4):
- Sanctuary jurisdictions lose eligibility for specific federal grants starting October 1, 2025.
- Amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to bar grants for public works, planning, supplementary funding, and training in sanctuary areas.
- Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to:
- Define "sanctuary jurisdiction" in the law.
- Require grantees to certify they are not (and will not become) sanctuaries.
- Prohibit funding to sanctuaries; any received funds must be returned and reallocated to non-sanctuary areas using existing formulas (excluding sanctuaries).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands legal protections for state and local officials enforcing federal immigration detainers, shifting liability to the federal government—a new shield not previously available under current immigration and tort laws.
- Introduces a federal definition of "sanctuary jurisdiction" and ties it directly to funding restrictions, overriding or conflicting with local policies that limit immigration enforcement cooperation.
- Modifies two major grant programs (economic development and community development block grants) by adding eligibility criteria based on immigration cooperation, which were previously focused on economic need without such immigration-related conditions.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Encourages state and local law enforcement to assist DHS (e.g., Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in detaining undocumented individuals suspected of crimes, potentially increasing federal efficiency in deportations but straining local resources.
- On Citizens: Communities in non-sanctuary areas may see more economic development funding, while sanctuary areas could face reduced support for infrastructure, housing, and job programs, affecting low-income residents regardless of immigration status.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could influence perceptions of U.S. immigration enforcement by prioritizing removal of criminal non-citizens, potentially affecting diplomatic ties with countries of origin for deportees.
- Broader effects include possible shifts in crime reporting (due to the victim/witness exception) and increased community trust or tension around immigration enforcement.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State and Local Governments and Law Enforcement: Gain legal protections for cooperation but risk losing federal funds if deemed sanctuaries; officers benefit from federal liability coverage.
- Federal Agencies (DHS, ICE): Easier access to local assistance for detentions, enhancing immigration enforcement.
- Undocumented Immigrants: Particularly those suspected of violent crimes or terrorism, facing higher detention and deportation risks; victims/witnesses in sanctuaries may still be protected.
- U.S. Citizens and Residents in Affected Areas: Indirectly impacted through changes in local funding for community projects and potential increases in local-federal policing collaboration.
- Grant Recipients and Economic Developers: Non-sanctuary areas gain advantages in federal funding competitions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Could lead to lawsuits over whether the funding conditions violate the anti-commandeering principle (10th Amendment, which limits federal forcing of state officials to enforce federal laws), or infringe on states' rights to set local policies. The civil rights exception aims to mitigate claims of rights violations but may still invite challenges under the 4th (unreasonable searches) or 14th (equal protection) Amendments.
- Constitutional: Relies on Congress's spending power to condition federal funds on policy compliance, a common but contested tool (e.g., similar to highway funding tied to drinking age). May face scrutiny for coercing states into federal immigration roles.
- Political: Reinforces debates on immigration federalism, potentially deepening divides between "sanctuary" (often Democratic-led) and cooperative jurisdictions (often Republican-led), influencing elections and state-federal relations without altering core immigration laws.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23]
Cosponsors (20)
Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19], Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11], Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1], Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2], Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6], Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14], Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-10: 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.
- 2025-06-10: 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.
- 2025-06-10: 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.
- 2025-06-10: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act — issued 2025-06-10 — PDF (9 pages)