Immigration (Sanctuary Policies)

HR 3881, the "Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act," denies certain federal grants to states or localities that restrict sharing immigration status information or comply with federal immigration detainers. Specifically, it defines "sanctuary jurisdictions" as those with policies prohibiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement requests (under Sections 236/287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act). The bill blocks recipients from receiving Economic Development Administration grants and Community Development Block Grants if they are deemed a sanctuary jurisdiction. Local officials complying with federal detainers gain legal protections, including immunity from lawsuits, while jurisdictions violating the law face mandatory return of funds. The policy takes effect October 1, 2025.

The CLEAR Act of 2025 encourages state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities by requiring states to provide information about apprehended aliens to federal officials and creating a database of immigration violators in the National Crime Information Center. The bill provides financial assistance to states that assist with immigration enforcement, establishes procedures for transferring aliens from state/local custody to federal custody, and increases federal detention capacity. It directly affects state and local law enforcement agencies, aliens unlawfully present in the United States, and the federal government's immigration enforcement operations. The bill also includes provisions for training law enforcement on immigration enforcement procedures and offers legal immunity for officers following the law.

This bill amends U.S. immigration law to deny entry to noncitizens convicted of or admitting to certain violent crimes, and to make them deportable. It directly affects noncitizens who have been convicted of or admitted to sex offenses, domestic violence, stalking, child abuse/neglect, or violating protection orders involving threats of violence. Key provisions add these offenses as grounds for denying entry (inadmissibility) under Section 212(a)(2) and as grounds for deportation (deportability) under Section 237(a)(2). The law specifies that domestic violence and protection order violations are included regardless of whether the jurisdiction received specific federal grant funding.

This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to relocate all its regional, district, and local offices out of jurisdictions classified as "sanctuary jurisdictions" - defined as areas with policies restricting sharing of immigration information with federal authorities or refusing to comply with certain immigration detainer requests. Offices must be moved within 60 days to a location outside a sanctuary jurisdiction, and operations must pause during relocation. The bill excludes jurisdictions with policies protecting crime victims or witnesses from being deemed sanctuary jurisdictions. It directly affects SBA offices (excluding headquarters) in 37 states and localities with such policies, mandating their physical relocation.

HR 1680, the UPLIFT Act, requires all local law enforcement agencies in jurisdictions that restrict immigration enforcement (often called "sanctuary jurisdictions") to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities. It amends a 1996 law to prohibit local entities from restricting officers from asking about immigration status, sharing information about suspected criminals, or complying with federal detainer requests for suspected inadmissible or deportable individuals. The bill also mandates annual compliance reports to Congress, allows local governments to sue states for noncompliance, and provides legal immunity to jurisdictions following federal detainers. This would directly affect local police departments and county jails in areas with policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

This bill prohibits the District of Columbia from maintaining policies that block government officials from sharing immigration status information with federal authorities or refusing to comply with federal immigration detainers. It specifically requires DC to share citizenship/immigration data and honor detainer requests under federal law, except when an individual is a crime victim or witness. The law directly affects DC government entities, officials, and policies, mandating cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. It does not change DC's authority to protect crime victims but eliminates existing sanctuary-like restrictions.

This bill prohibits federal funding from being used to provide benefits to refugees, asylees, and undocumented immigrants. It specifically blocks funds for programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, and food stamps (SNAP) when serving these groups, as well as other federal benefits, subsidies, or services. The law directly affects noncitizens in the U.S. without legal status, refugees, and asylees by denying them access to these federal programs. It amends existing law to prevent the use of appropriated funds for these purposes.

This bill allows state attorneys (who are licensed and trained) to represent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in removal proceedings for certain criminal aliens, under federal supervision. It requires states to ensure these attorneys follow federal law, provide proper training, and not displace federal employees. The bill also expands the definition of "aggravated felony" to include more state-level crimes (like certain drug offenses or thefts punishable by over one year in prison), making those offenses trigger mandatory immigration removal. This directly affects state attorneys participating in federal immigration enforcement and immigrants convicted of qualifying state crimes.

This bill amends immigration law to require the immediate detention of certain non-citizens who are charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admit to committing specific crimes - including burglary, theft, shoplifting, assault on police officers, or crimes causing death/serious injury. It directly affects non-citizens facing these offenses by expanding mandatory detention under existing immigration rules. The key provision requires the Homeland Security Secretary to issue a detainer and take custody of such individuals if not already detained by authorities, using definitions of crimes based on the jurisdiction where the offense occurred.

Laken Riley Act This act requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain certain non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting, assault of a law enforcement officer, or any crime that results in death or serious bodily injury to another person. The act also authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement. Under this act, DHS must detain an individual who (1) is unlawfully present in the United States or did not possess the necessary documents when applying for admission; and (2) has been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of the above crimes. The act also authorizes state governments to sue for injunctive relief over certain immigration-related decisions or alleged failures by the federal government if the decision or failure caused the state or its residents harm, including financial harm of more than $100. Specifically, the state government may sue the federal government over a decision to release a non-U.S. national from custody; failure to fulfill requirements relating to inspecting individuals seeking admission into the United States, including requirements related to asylum interviews; failure to fulfill a requirement to stop issuing visas to nationals of a country that unreasonably denies or delays acceptance of nationals of that country; violation of limitations on immigration parole, such as the requirement that parole be granted only on a case-by-case basis; or failure to detain an individual who has been ordered removed from the United States.