Law Enforcement Solidarity Act

This proposal would block certain federal funds from going to states or cities that limit their employees from helping federal law enforcement officers. If the Attorney General decides a place has such limits, that place could not use federal money to provide benefits like food, shelter, health care, legal help, or transportation to people in the U.S. without lawful status. This would start in the first federal budget year that begins at least 60 days after it becomes law.

The Attorney General would also publish a yearly list of places with these limits, starting within one year of the law taking effect. The bill defines “law enforcement cooperation restrictions” as any rule or practice that stops government workers from assisting, backing up, or responding to calls from federal law enforcement officers, including those at the Department of Homeland Security.

Key points

• Who is affected: States and localities that restrict their workers from helping federal law enforcement; people without lawful immigration status who receive local services funded by federal dollars.
• What changes: Those jurisdictions could not use federal funds to provide food, shelter, health care, legal services, or transportation to people without lawful status; the Attorney General must issue an annual list of such jurisdictions.
• When: Starts the first fiscal year that begins at least 60 days after enactment; first report due within one year, then annually.