States and cities that have "sanctuary" policies — laws that limit how much local police cooperate with federal immigration enforcement — would lose access to all federal funding under this bill. Specifically, any state or local government that prevents its officers from responding to immigration detainers (requests to hold someone for up to 48 hours so ICE can pick them up) would be cut off. Local governments within a defunded state could apply directly for federal money if they themselves comply. The bill affects every community that receives federal grants, from public safety to infrastructure.
Civil Liberties
- Federal-funding pressure on sanctuary policies — All federal funds withheld from jurisdictions that limit detainer compliance
- Local discretion over immigration detainers — State and local non-cooperation policies trigger funding loss
- ICE custody window — Up to 48 hours of detention authorized on a Homeland Security detainer
Average Household Impact
- Federal funding to non-complying jurisdictions — Cut off across all program categories, including public safety and infrastructure
- Local government direct-grant pathway — Compliant localities in non-complying states may apply directly for federal funds
Congressional Summary
Help Ensure Legal Detainers Act or the HELD ActThis bill prohibits the use of federal funds by a state or local subdivision that has in effect a law, policy, or procedure that prevents or impedesa timely response to a request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for information about an alien in state or local custody, including the alien's estimated release date; orcompliance with a request from ICE to hold an alien for up to 48 hours so that ICE may assume custody.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-03-04
- Date Added
- 2026-04-06
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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