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Mayors

Sanctuary City Mayors Face Criminal Liability Under New Proposed Legislation

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., is pushing to hold mayors of sanctuary cities responsible for illegal immigrants committing murder within their jurisdictions. The proposed Establishing Responsibility for Illegals' Crimes and Adding Deterrence and Accountability for Mayors' Sanctuary Cities Act, or the ERIC ADAMS Act, aims to open sanctuary city mayors to criminal liability if an undocumented person commits murder and if the mayor's sanctuary policies are deemed to have contributed to the crime. The legislation is named after New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is up for re-election this November.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ERIC ADAMS Act would hold sanctuary city mayors criminally liable for murder committed by undocumented immigrants if the mayor's sanctuary policies are deemed to have contributed to the crime.
  • The bill's introduction comes days after the Trump administration sued New York City for its sanctuary policies, one of multiple such lawsuits against Democrat-run cities and states.
  • Rep. Buddy Carter cited the murder of nursing student Laken Riley in 2024, killed by an illegal immigrant in Georgia, as an example of the need for the bill.
  • The bill's provisions would be enforced by the attorney general, with penalties including up to 7 years in prison and certain fines.
  • The legislation would hold mayors accountable for creating a "lawless environment" that allows criminal illegal aliens to commit murder.
  • Mayor Eric Adams' office responded that he supports the essence of local laws put in place by the City Council but has urged the Council to reexamine them to ensure effective cooperation with the federal government.

Statistics:

  • The proposed legislation would cover sanctuary cities, which are cities that have adopted policies limiting their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
  • The bill's provisions would apply if an undocumented person committed murder in a sanctuary city and if the mayor's sanctuary policies contributed to the crime.
  • The proposed penalties include up to 7 years in prison and certain fines for mayors found guilty of "criminal negligence resulting in manslaughter."
  • There have been multiple lawsuits against Democrat-run cities and states for their sanctuary policies, including the Trump administration's lawsuit against New York City.
  • Mayor Eric Adams is up for re-election in November 2026.

Sources:

  • Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., quoted in Fox News Digital, 02 Aug 2025.
  • Kayla Mamelak, spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams, quoted in Fox News Digital, 02 Aug 2025.
  • Bill text of the ERIC ADAMS Act, obtained by Fox News Digital.

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