Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Treats state and local officials who honor Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immigration detainers as acting for DHS and gives them the same authority and general liability protection as DHS officers, while excluding protection for anyone who knowingly violates civil or constitutional rights. Defines “sanctuary jurisdiction” as a state or locality with a law, policy, or practice that prevents sharing immigration or citizenship information or following DHS detainers, with a limited exception for victims or witnesses. Makes jurisdictions that meet that definition ineligible for specified federal economic and community development grants and requires return/reallocation of funds if a grantee becomes a sanctuary jurisdiction; the grant-eligibility changes take effect October 1, 2025.
A State, a political subdivision of a State, or an officer, employee, or agent of such State or political subdivision that complies with a detainer issued by the Department of Homeland Security under INA sections 236 or 287 shall be deemed to be acting as an agent of the Department of Homeland Security.
With regard to actions taken to comply with such a DHS detainer, the State or local actor shall have all authority available to officers and employees of the Department of Homeland Security.
In any legal proceeding challenging the legality of a seizure or detention made pursuant to a DHS detainer, no liability shall lie against the State or political subdivision for actions taken in compliance with the detainer.
If an officer, employee, or agent of a State or political subdivision acted in compliance with a DHS detainer, that person shall be deemed to be an employee of the Federal Government and an investigative or law enforcement officer.
Such an officer, employee, or agent shall be deemed to have been acting within the scope of his or her employment under section 1346(b) and under title 28, chapter 171, United States Code.
Last progress June 10, 2025 (8 months ago)
Introduced on June 10, 2025 by Nicholas A. Langworthy
Who is affected and how:
State and local governments: Directly affected because the bill (1) treats certain officers as acting for DHS when they comply with detainers; (2) may reduce direct litigation risk for those officers; and (3) conditions eligibility for multiple federal economic and community development grants on not being a sanctuary jurisdiction. Local governments that currently limit cooperation with DHS may lose access to specified federal funds or need to change policies to remain eligible.
Law enforcement and front-line officials: Officials who honor DHS detainers gain an express statutory status and broad liability protection (subject to the civil‑rights carve‑out). Agencies will need guidance and training on how the bill changes authority and litigation responsibilities.
Immigrants, noncitizens, and communities with large immigrant populations: People in jurisdictions that become subject to increased cooperation with federal immigration enforcement may face greater immigration enforcement risks. The carve‑out for victims and witnesses may mitigate some chilling effects on reporting crimes, but overall community trust and willingness to engage with local authorities could change.
Federal grant recipients and local projects: Entities that receive federal economic or community development grants must certify and maintain non‑sanctuary status; if a grantee’s policies change, they may be required to return funds and lose future eligibility. This could disrupt planned projects, housing, infrastructure, or community programs funded by the affected grants.
Federal agencies and grant administrators: Agencies will need to implement new eligibility criteria, monitor compliance, and manage fund returns/reallocations. That requires administrative work, new guidance, and possible rulemaking or procedural updates.
Civil rights plaintiffs and lawyers: The bill preserves the ability to sue for knowing violations of civil or constitutional rights but shifts many suits tied to compliance with detainers to the federal government as defendant, which may affect litigation strategies, remedies, and timelines.
Overall effect: The legislation leverages federal grant eligibility and statutory treatment of local actions to push states and localities toward closer cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. That creates tradeoffs between access to federal funding, local policy autonomy, community trust, and litigation pathways for civil‑rights claims.
Updated 1 day ago
Last progress February 24, 2025 (11 months ago)
