H.R. 4838 — ERIC ADAMS Act of 2025

This section establishes criminal liability for criminal negligence resulting in manslaughter for mayors of sanctuary cities if an undocumented immigrant commits murder within the city's jurisdiction and the mayor knowingly adopted, maintained, or failed to repeal a sanctuary policy (i.e., a policy materially restricting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement) that directly and foreseeably contributed to the failure to detain or remove that immigrant prior to the murder. A conviction subjects the mayor to imprisonment for up to 7 years, a fine under title 18, or both, and mandatory removal or disqualification from public office.

This section (1) grants the Attorney General exclusive authority to investigate and prosecute offenses under the Act, (2) vests U.S. district courts with original jurisdiction over criminal proceedings arising under the Act, and (3) provides federal courts with jurisdiction over cases brought under the Act.

This section establishes definitions for purposes of the Act. It defines (1) "sanctuary city" as any political subdivision of a state that, by law, ordinance, policy, or practice, prohibits or substantially restricts local law enforcement or municipal agencies from (A) cooperating with or providing information to federal immigration enforcement authorities, or (B) complying with lawful detainer requests or administrative warrants issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; (2) "undocumented immigrant" as any person present in the United States without lawful immigration status under the Immigration and Nationality Act; and (3) "mayor" as the chief executive officer of a municipal government, whether elected or appointed.

This section establishes a severability clause, providing that if any provision of the Act, or its application to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of the Act and the application of that provision to other persons or circumstances remain unaffected.