H.R. 7423: No Sanctuary Cities Act of 2026

This bill, known as the "No Sanctuary Cities Act of 2026," aims to amend an existing immigration law to enhance the requirements for information sharing between state and local governments and federal immigration authorities. The key points of the bill include:

Definitions

• The term “information” is defined to include data related to an individual’s immigration or citizenship status, custody status, scheduled release details, detention facility location, and transfer or discharge information.
• “Materially restrict” refers to any practices that prohibit, delay, or condition the sharing of information in ways that hinder timely transmission.

Restrictions on State and Local Policies

The bill prohibits states or local governments from creating or enforcing laws or policies that:

• Prohibit or significantly limit sharing information about individuals’ immigration status with federal immigration authorities.
• Discipline or retaliate against any government officials or entities for sharing required information.
• Implement unnecessary delays or requirements that affect the sharing of such information.

Notification Requirements

State and local governments are required to notify the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about the release of certain individuals from criminal custody. This includes:

• Scheduled releases must be reported at least 48 hours in advance.
• Unscheduled releases must be reported immediately upon a court order, and individuals may be held for up to 48 hours to allow DHS to take custody.

Response to Inquiries

The bill mandates that the Department of Homeland Security must respond to inquiries from government agencies about individuals' immigration status, providing the requested information.

Officer Immunity

Law enforcement officers at the state or local level will have immunity from personal liability when acting within their official duties related to immigration enforcement and information sharing as specified by the law.

Enforcement Mechanisms

• The Attorney General can initiate civil actions to ensure compliance with the amended information sharing requirements.
• If a state or local government is found to be in violation knowingly, they may become ineligible for federal grants related to law enforcement.

Severability Clause

If any part of this bill is found to be invalid, the remaining provisions shall still remain effective.

Relevant Companies

None found