Cities and counties labeled as "sanctuary jurisdictions" — places that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement — would lose access to federal highway and infrastructure funding under this bill. Any local government that doesn't have a written policy requiring 48-hour advance notice to the Department of Homeland Security before releasing an undocumented immigrant from custody would be cut off from those grants. The requirement kicks in one year after the law takes effect and applies only when federal officials have already notified local authorities of the person's immigration status before release. States that want federal road and infrastructure dollars would need to ensure every political subdivision within their borders meets the new notification standard.
Congressional Summary
Blocking Lawless Open Border Cities and States Act of 2025 or the BLOC ActThis bill prohibits federal funding of certain infrastructure and transportation projects in jurisdictions that do not require federal notification prior to release from custody of a non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) who is not lawfully present.Specifically, the Department of Transportation is prohibited from providing funds for infrastructure projects, including for highway construction, to a political subdivision of a state that does not have certain statutory requirements or other practices in place a year after enactment of this bill. Political subdivisions of a state must require entities of the political subdivision to notify the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 48 hours prior to releasing from custody an individual determined to be not lawfully present in the United States if DHS has notified the entity of the status of the individual and the individual has been in custody for at least 48 hours.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-03-06
- Date Added
- 2026-04-24
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