End Sanctuary Cities Act of 2026

HR 7612 (End Sanctuary Cities Act of 2026) prohibits state and local government officials from interfering with federal immigration enforcement by blocking Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requests for "reasonable advance notice" (at least 48 hours) about releasing criminal aliens. It directly affects local leaders who establish policies restricting such notice, imposing criminal penalties: up to 25 years in prison for failures leading to the release of individuals convicted of murder, rape, or sex offenses against minors. Penalties decrease to 5-10 years for serious violent felonies and 30 days-6 months for other criminal offenses. The law creates new federal criminal charges under Title 18, Section 1925, targeting officials who obstruct DHS compliance with immigration laws.