Immigration

HR 7252, the Restoring Community Trust Act of 2026, repeals Section 642 of the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (8 U.S.C. 1373). This provision currently requires state and local government agencies to share information about individuals with federal immigration authorities. The bill removes this mandate, allowing states and localities to decide independently whether to share such information with federal immigration officials, consistent with their own laws. It does not prohibit voluntary cooperation but aims to restore state authority over internal operations and reduce legal uncertainty for local governments.

This bill creates a pathway for Afghan allies who supported U.S. operations in Afghanistan to obtain conditional permanent resident status in the United States. It defines "Afghan allies" as individuals who served in Afghan security forces or provided direct support to U.S. missions during the period from 2001-2021. The bill establishes a process for reviewing applications, conducting security assessments, and referring eligible individuals to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, with conditional permanent resident status that can be converted to full permanent residency after 4 years if certain conditions are met.

The Private Detention Accountability Act (S 3932) requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to submit audit reports to specific congressional committees within 30 days after completing facility inspections. It prohibits ICE from housing new detainees at any detention facility unless the facility has undergone a completed audit, any identified issues have been fixed, and the required report has been submitted. This applies to all facilities starting operations after the law's enactment or those already operating that have had their audits finalized. The bill directly affects ICE detention facilities and the non-citizens held within them by mandating transparency and safety compliance before new housing occurs.

Bill S 2468 updates a provision in the Immigration and Nationality Act that allows certain long-term residents to apply for a form of legal status (registry). Currently, this provision only applies to people who entered the U.S. before July 1, 1924, or January 1, 1972. The bill changes the requirement to mandate that applicants entered the U.S. at least seven years before submitting their application. This adjustment would expand eligibility to include more individuals who have lived in the U.S. continuously for seven years or longer. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

HRES 207 is a symbolic resolution recognizing the contributions of Latinas in Illinois. It celebrates their cultural, economic, and political impact while acknowledging their underrepresentation in elected office (9.6% of Illinois population vs. 2.6% of state elected officials). The resolution highlights specific Latina leaders across Illinois communities and their work on policies like women’s rights and healthcare access for undocumented people. It also emphasizes the importance of accurate Census data for Latinas’ political and economic influence. This resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally honors these contributions through congressional recognition.

HR 4104 would expand access to Medicaid, CHIP, and Affordable Care Act (ACA) health coverage for immigrants lawfully present in the U.S., including those with deferred action or pending immigration applications. It removes state-level barriers to Medicaid/CHIP eligibility for lawfully present individuals, treats Federally authorized presence as "lawfully present" for ACA subsidies, and allows states to choose to cover undocumented individuals through Medicaid or CHIP. The bill also extends these changes to Medicare Part A and Part B, ensuring lawfully present immigrants qualify for coverage and subsidies under existing programs. These provisions apply to all federally funded health programs and take effect in 2026 for most ACA-related changes.