hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Requires local police to cooperate on immigration for federal grants.
Rep. Cline (R-VA).
Introduced in House, referred to committee.
This bill makes federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants available only to state and local law enforcement agencies that enter into agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to help with immigration enforcement. If an agency doesn't sign an agreement within 180 days of the bill becoming law, it cannot receive these grants. Representative Ben Cline, a Republican from Virginia, introduced this bill, and it has been sent to the House Judiciary Committee for review. This means it has a long way to go before it could become law.
Introduced Mar 25, 2026
The bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives and sent to the House Judiciary Committee. It must pass in this committee before it can be voted on by the full House. If it passes the House, it would then move to the Senate for consideration. There are no dates set for committee hearings or votes yet.
If this bill passes, state and local law enforcement agencies would need to sign agreements with ICE, allowing their officers to enforce certain federal immigration laws. Agencies that do not sign these agreements within 180 days would become ineligible for COPS grants, which fund various community policing initiatives. This could lead to some police departments losing a source of federal funding for programs like hiring officers or developing crime prevention strategies, potentially impacting how they operate in your community.
Supporters Say
Supporters believe this bill enhances public safety by requiring local cooperation with federal immigration laws.
Critics Say
Critics may argue it could strain relationships between local police and immigrant communities, and reduce vital community policing funds.
While the bill doesn't explicitly state its goals, its title implies that requiring local cooperation with the 287(g) program is seen as beneficial. Arguments for the bill would likely focus on promoting national security and ensuring consistent immigration enforcement. Conversely, opponents might contend that linking federal funding to immigration enforcement could force local agencies to divert resources from local crime issues and make immigrant communities less likely to report crimes to police, ultimately making communities less safe.