Texas Scorecard by Emily Medeiros December 18, 2024
House Bill 1645 would allow a person injured by an illegal alien’s crime to file a lawsuit against local entities or university police departments that enact sanctuary policies.A new measure filed in the Texas House would allow a person injured by an illegal alien’s crime to sue sanctuary cities.
House Bill 1645 by State Rep. Terri Leo-Wilson (R-Galveston) allows for a person injured or a personal representative of a person killed as a result of an illegal alien’s crimes to file a lawsuit against a local entity or university police department if it fails to comply with federal and state immigration law at the time the crime was committed.
This means if a local entity, like a city government or university campus police, violates the law by having a sanctuary policy, it can be held responsible and a court may award damages, reasonable costs, and attorney’s fees.
The legislation also states that if a local entity or university police department has such a policy, its sovereign and governmental immunity will be waived to the extent of liability. If the local entity or campus police department does not have these policies in violation of the law, it will retain its immunity.
Leo-Wilson told Texas Scorecard that the legislation sends a clear message to cities passing sanctuary city policies.
More:
https://texasscorecard.com/state/proposal-would-allow-citizens-injured-by-illegal-aliens-to-sue-sanctuary-cities/
