Enforce Immigration or Lose Transportation Act
Sen. Cotton's Bill Would Strip Highway Funds From States That Refuse to Aid Immigration Enforcement
Legislative Progress
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.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
This bill directly targets undocumented immigrants by requiring states to stop issuing driver's licenses to people who cannot prove they are lawfully present in the U.S. In states that currently allow undocumented residents to get licenses, those individuals would lose the ability to legally drive, affecting their ability to get to work, school, and medical appointments. States would also be required to share immigration status information with federal authorities, increasing the risk of detention and deportation.
State Impacts
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
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.
Related News
3 articles
Feds abandon bid to tie transportation money to immigration
The federal government dropped its appeal of a court ruling that blocked tying transportation funds to immigration enforcement. The move follows a judge's finding that the DOT lacked statutory authority, prompting lawmakers like Sen. Cotton to seek legislative fixes to authorize such penalties.
Trump administration pulls $160M in highway funds from California over immigrant trucker feud
The Trump administration is withholding $160 million from California over its refusal to revoke commercial driver's licenses for immigrants. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy accused the state of 'illegally' issuing licenses, marking a escalation in the fight over sanctuary state policies.
Duffy threatens to withhold millions in highway funds from New York over immigrant CDL system
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened to withhold $73 million in highway funds from New York unless it revokes commercial licenses for undocumented immigrants. The move is part of a broader push to use transportation funding as leverage to force state cooperation with immigration laws.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Enforce Immigration or Lose Transportation Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.