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H.R. 1680: Unhandcuffing Police to Locate and Interdict Foreign Transgressors Act

In summary, the bill titled the "Unhandcuffing Police to Locate and Interdict Foreign Transgressors Act," or UPLIFT Act, seeks to amend existing immigration law to enhance cooperation between state and local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. The key elements of the bill are as follows:

Purpose

The bill aims to address concerns about crime linked to transnational criminal organizations operating within the U.S. It focuses on improving law enforcement's ability to deter the flow of illegal drugs and to safeguard communities from such crime.

Changes to Law Enforcement Cooperation

The bill proposes significant changes to the current restrictions on how state and local governments interact with federal immigration enforcement:

  • Prohibition on Noncompliance: It prohibits any state or local government entity from restricting cooperation with federal immigration law enforcement, meaning they cannot prevent or limit their officials from complying with immigration laws.
  • Enhanced Law Enforcement Activities: State and local law enforcement officials would be allowed to ask individuals about their immigration status if they suspect them of being involved in a crime, notify federal agencies about individuals suspected of such involvement, and respond to federal requests for information.
  • Immigration Detention Agreements: Local jurisdictions would be permitted to enter agreements with private entities to detain individuals suspected of being inadmissible or deportable aliens without state restrictions.

Judicial Mechanism for Compliance

Local entities would be granted the right to seek legal action against their state governments if they believe the state has violated these new provisions and caused harm to the local entity or its residents. This is intended to enable local governments to enforce compliance with federal guidelines.

Federal Oversight

The Secretary of Homeland Security would be required to annually assess and report which states or local jurisdictions are failing to comply with the new provisions. This accountability aim could manifest in increased scrutiny and potential repercussions for non-compliance.

Clarifying Authority on Immigration Detainers

The bill clarifies the powers of federal officials to issue detainers for individuals arrested by state or local law enforcement for any criminal offenses if there is probable cause that they are inadmissible or deportable aliens. Law enforcement agencies would need to comply with these detainers and hold individuals for a specified period pending transfer to federal authorities.

Immunities and Legal Rights

The bill introduces legal protections for local entities and officials in fulfilling these new obligations. They would be considered to be acting under federal authority when complying with immigration detainers, thereby protecting them from certain civil liabilities.

  • Right of Action for Victims: It grants the right to victims of certain serious crimes - when committed by individuals released from custody due to noncompliance with federal detainers - to seek damages against local governments.

Limitations and Exemptions

One key aspect of the bill highlights that law enforcement would not be required to report or arrest victims or witnesses of crimes, providing some safeguard for community members involved in the justice system.

Relevant Companies

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This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.

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Sponsors

4 bill sponsors

Actions

2 actions

Date Action
Feb. 27, 2025 Introduced in House
Feb. 27, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

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