Enforce Immigration or Lose Transportation Act

Key Points

• This bill, introduced by Mr. Cotton, would take away federal money for roads and bridges from states that do not help enforce federal immigration laws. States would lose 5% of their highway funding the first year they do not follow the rules and 10% every year after that.
• To keep their full funding, states would be required to stop giving driver's licenses or ID cards to people who cannot prove they are in the country legally. They would also have to share information about people's immigration status with the Department of Homeland Security when asked.
• The policy also requires state and local officials to cooperate with federal immigration officers. This includes honoring 'detainers,' which are requests to hold someone in jail longer so they can be picked up by immigration authorities for deportation.
• If this bill becomes law, the new rules would start on October 1, 2026. Every year, states would have to submit proof and data to the federal government showing they are following these immigration policies to receive their full share of transportation money.