Sponsors (17)
The bill clarifies Byrne JAG fund uses and preserves federal support for compliant states, but conditions and penalties tied to state immigration and information-sharing policies risk immediate funding cuts, disrupting local public-safety programs and raising privacy and administrative concerns.
State and local governments that align with the bill's requirements can continue receiving Byrne JAG grant funding, preserving federal support for crime-prevention and public-safety programs.
Law enforcement agencies and local governments get a clear, uniform definition of what Byrne JAG funds may be used for, reducing ambiguity about eligible grant uses and helping consistent program administration.
Agencies that handle detention and release records receive clearer guidance on what counts as immigration-enforcement information, supporting more consistent data handling across jurisdictions.
States that issue driver licenses without proof of lawful presence or that limit immigration-information sharing risk losing unobligated Byrne JAG funds, causing substantial and immediate reductions in federal funding available for state and local public-safety programs.
Loss or forfeiture of Byrne JAG funds can disrupt grants and contracts that support local policing and community public-safety initiatives, harming community policing and local public-safety services.
The bill effectively forces states to change driver-licensing and information-sharing laws to regain grants, which may be viewed as reducing local control and residents' privacy regarding immigration enforcement.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Conditions Byrne JAG grant eligibility on states prohibiting licenses without proof of citizenship/lawful presence and allowing sharing of immigration status/release info with DHS, with return-of-funds and ineligibility penalties.
Introduced September 3, 2025 by Jodey Cook Arrington · Last progress September 3, 2025
Conditions a federal law enforcement grant program on state immigration- and driver-license policies. States that issue driver licenses without proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, or that prohibit sharing individuals' immigration status and release information with DHS, must return unobligated Byrne JAG funds and are barred from receiving future Byrne JAG funds until they change laws or policies to comply. Penalties include returning funds within 30 days and ineligibility for future grants until the state (1) bars issuing driver licenses to people who cannot prove citizenship or lawful presence and (2) allows collection and sharing of immigration enforcement information with DHS.