A bill to amend chapter 93 of title 18, United States Code, to prohibit obstruction of immigration laws by official interference.
Senate Bill Would Criminalize Sanctuary City Policies, Jail Officials Up to Life for Non-Cooperation
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would make it a federal crime for state or local government workers to intentionally block federal immigration officers from doing their jobs. It targets policies that prevent local police from working with federal agents to find or deport people who are in the country illegally.
- Local officials would be banned from hiding people from federal agents or refusing to let agents into public areas of local jails. They would also be required to give federal authorities at least 48 hours' notice before releasing someone that federal agents are looking for.
- The bill sets strict punishments for officials who break these rules. A standard violation could lead to 10 years in prison. If an official's refusal to cooperate leads to someone being released who then seriously hurts or kills another person, that official could face 20 years to life in prison.
- This proposal aims to ensure that federal immigration laws are followed across the entire country, even in cities or states that have passed their own rules to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
This bill is designed to make it easier for federal immigration officers to find, detain, and deport undocumented individuals by criminalizing state and local officials who stand in the way. In cities and states that currently limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement (often called "sanctuary" jurisdictions), undocumented people have had some degree of protection from federal agents. If this bill passes, those protections could disappear, making undocumented individuals significantly more vulnerable to arrest and deportation.
State Impacts
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
A bill to amend chapter 93 of title 18, United States Code, to prohibit obstruction of immigration laws by official interference.
Data Sources
Sponsor
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.