Background: HB7, known as the Laken Riley Act, would authorize state and local law enforcement agencies to enter into formal agreements with federal agencies such as the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enforce federal immigration laws. This would allow local law enforcement to detain, investigate, and transport individuals suspected of being undocumented, effectively deputizing state and local officers as immigration agents.
The bill would also mandate county and municipal jails to honor immigration detainer requests issued by DHS, requiring them to hold individuals at the request of federal authorities, even in cases where there is no formal judicial warrant. Additionally, it would impose reporting requirements on jails, forcing them to track and disclose data on foreign nationals in custody, including details about immigration status, visa history, and detainer requests.
Our Position: We oppose HB7. This bill would divert local resources to do the work of federal immigration officers. It would also undermine due process protections and discourage victims and witnesses from reporting crimes. Immigration enforcement should remain a federal responsibility, and local law enforcement agencies should not be turned into immigration officers.
