Sponsors (17)
The bill conditions federal Byrne JAG law-enforcement grants on states' immigration-license and data-sharing practices, preserving funding and clearer rules for compliant states while creating the risk of rapid funding cuts, mandated policy changes, increased data-sharing that can affect immigrants' privacy, and added compliance costs for governments.
State governments that align with the bill keep receiving Byrne JAG grants, preserving federal funding for local law enforcement and crime-prevention programs.
Law enforcement agencies and local governments get a clear, uniform definition of what Byrne JAG funds cover, reducing ambiguity about eligible grant uses and simplifying grant administration.
Agencies that handle detention and release records receive clearer guidance on what qualifies as immigration enforcement information, supporting more consistent data handling across jurisdictions.
States that adopt policies like issuing licenses without proof of lawful presence or that limit immigration-related sharing with DHS risk rapid forfeiture of unobligated Byrne JAG funds, reducing money available for local policing, grants, and public-safety contracts.
Local governments and community policing initiatives may lose access to federal-funded programs if their state is penalized, undermining trust-based policing and services in affected communities.
Immigrants and people detained may have more citizenship/status and release details classified as immigration-enforcement information, increasing the risk those records are shared with or used by law enforcement.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Conditions Byrne JAG grant eligibility on States refusing driver licenses to individuals lacking proof of lawful presence and permitting immigration-status data sharing with DHS; requires returning unobligated funds if noncompliant.
Official title: To restrict certain Federal grants for States that grant driver licenses to illegal immigrants and fail to share information about criminal aliens with the Federal Government.
Introduced September 3, 2025 by Jodey Cook Arrington · Last progress September 3, 2025
Conditions federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) funding on State immigration and information-sharing policies. States that issue driver licenses to people without proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, or that bar local/state entities from sharing immigration enforcement information with DHS, must return unobligated Byrne JAG funds and are ineligible for future Byrne JAG funds until they change those laws or policies. The law defines key terms (Byrne JAG funds, immigration enforcement information, State) and sets timelines: States that issue prohibited licenses must return unused funds within 30 days after issuing such licenses; States that restrict information sharing must return unobligated funds within 30 days of enactment. Eligibility is restored only after adopting laws/policies that prohibit licenses for those lacking lawful presence and that permit immigration-status information exchange with DHS.