Congress·In Committee·H.R. 7252

New Bill Aims to Let Local Governments Limit Immigration Data Sharing with Federal Agents

Restoring Community Trust Act of 2026

about 2 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

This bill would repeal a 1996 law that currently stops state and local governments from banning their employees from sharing a person's immigration status with federal agents. If passed, cities and states could create their own rules about when and if they help federal immigration authorities.
Supporters, including sponsor Ms. Garcia of Texas, argue that when local police or schools share immigration info, it makes people afraid to report crimes or seek help. They believe that letting local governments set their own rules will build trust and make communities safer.
The bill also aims to protect 'states' rights.' It argues that the federal government shouldn't be allowed to force local officials to help with federal programs, like immigration enforcement, if the local community doesn't want to.
While this would give more power to local leaders, it could make it more difficult for federal immigration officers to track down and deport individuals. Critics often argue these types of policies create 'sanctuary' areas that might hinder federal law enforcement.
This change would not stop local governments from sharing information if they want to; it simply removes the federal requirement that they must allow their employees to do so. Federal agents would still have the power to enforce immigration laws on their own.

ImmigrationCivil RightsCriminal Justice

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Broader Impacts

DomainScoreShort-termLong-termReversibilityConfidence

Score

Scores: -5 (harmful) to +5 (beneficial)Short-term: 0-2 yearsLong-term: 10-30 years

State Impacts

StateScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Jan 27, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Jan 27, 2026

Introduced in House

Related News

2 articles

Houston Chronicle·about 2 months ago

Houston lawmaker says immigration bill would protect cities from losing federal funds

Rep. Sylvia Garcia introduced the Restoring Community Trust Act to repeal a 1996 federal law that mandates local cooperation with immigration authorities. The bill aims to ensure cities don't lose federal funding if they choose to prioritize local safety over federal enforcement.

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PBS NewsHour·about 2 months ago

A second U.S. citizen was killed by federal forces in Minneapolis. Here's what we know

The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti has intensified public outcry and prompted calls for federal reform. Lawmakers are now introducing legislation to limit federal immigration mandates on local authorities, citing a need to restore community trust and constitutional balance.

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