The proposed legislation would impose up to 7 years in prison for mayors of sanctuary cities if illegal immigrants commit murder in their jurisdictions.
A Republican lawmaker in the House is aiming to hold sanctuary city mayors accountable when illegal immigrants are involved in fatal crimes.
Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., is set to introduce the Establishing Responsibility for Illegals’ Crimes and Adding Deterrence and Accountability for Mayors’ Sanctuary Cities Act, known as the ERIC ADAMS Act, on Friday.
If enacted, the measure would expose mayors of sanctuary cities to criminal liability in cases where undocumented immigrants are found guilty of murder.
The bill is named after New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is seeking re-election this November.
Rep. Carter, meanwhile, is gearing up for a Senate run, challenging Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., in the 2026 midterm elections.
The introduction of the legislation follows the Trump administration’s recent move to sue New York City over its sanctuary policies — part of a broader legal offensive that President Donald Trump and his administration are waging against Democrat-led jurisdictions with similar immigration stances.
According to the bill text obtained by Fox News Digital, Carter’s proposal would permit prosecution of sanctuary city mayors for “criminal negligence resulting in manslaughter” if an undocumented immigrant commits murder and if:
“the mayor knowingly adopted, maintained, or failed to repeal a sanctuary policy that materially restricted cooperation with Federal immigration enforcement, and such policy directly and foreseeably contributed to the failure to detain or remove” the individual before the crime occurred.
The legislation includes a potential seven-year prison sentence and accompanying fines. The U.S. attorney general would be responsible for enforcing the law.
“Laken Riley and countless other loved ones could still be alive today if our immigration laws were respected by mayors of sanctuary cities,” Carter told Fox News Digital, referencing a Georgia nursing student who was murdered in early 2024 by an illegal immigrant.
“As far as I’m concerned, they have blood on their hands and should be held personally accountable for creating a lawless environment that allows criminal illegal aliens to commit murder,” he added.
In response, Kayla Mamelak, a spokesperson for Mayor Adams, issued a statement to Fox News Digital:
“It’s often said that if both the left and the right are angry with you, you might be doing something right.
Mayor Adams is focused on what best protects and serves all the people of New York City. Keeping New Yorkers safe also means making sure they feel safe, and Mayor Adams has been clear: no one should be afraid to dial 911, send their kids to school, or go to the hospital, and no New Yorker should feel forced to hide in the shadows.
That’s why the mayor supports the essence of the local laws put in place by the City Council, but he has also urged the Council to reexamine them to ensure we can effectively work with the federal government to keep violent criminals off our streets.”
