PROTECT Immigration Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6890
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-18: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-10T08:07:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
H.R. 6890: PROTECT Immigration Act of 2025
Purpose
This bill aims to end a federal program that allows state and local law enforcement officers to perform certain immigration enforcement tasks under agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It seeks to make clear that investigating, arresting, or detaining people for immigration violations is exclusively a federal responsibility, handled only by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The act is titled the "Protecting the Rights Of Towns against federal Enforcement contrary to Constitutional Tenets for Immigration Act of 2025" or simply the "PROTECT Immigration Act of 2025."
- Amendment to Immigration Law: It revises Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which currently permits DHS to enter agreements with state and local agencies for their officers to act as temporary immigration officers.
- The new language restricts the power to check immigration status, investigate, arrest, or detain individuals for immigration violations solely to federal immigration officers and authorized DHS employees.
- Exceptions are preserved for specific existing laws, including parts of the INA (Sections 103(a)(10) and 274(c)) and Section 439 of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (which allows state/local arrests of certain criminal aliens without agreements).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Elimination of 287(g) Program: The current 287(g) program, established in 1996, allows DHS to delegate immigration enforcement authority to state and local officers through voluntary written agreements. This bill fully repeals that delegation mechanism, replacing it with a broad restriction on non-federal involvement.
- Clarification of Federal Exclusivity: It explicitly limits immigration enforcement to federal personnel, overriding prior provisions that enabled local participation, while maintaining narrow exceptions for unrelated criminal enforcement scenarios.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: DHS and ICE would gain sole authority over immigration enforcement, potentially increasing their workload and requiring more federal resources. State and local law enforcement agencies would no longer participate in these activities, freeing them to focus on local crimes but possibly straining federal operations in high-immigration areas.
- On Citizens and Immigrants: Local communities, especially immigrant-heavy ones, might see reduced fear of routine police interactions leading to immigration checks, potentially improving trust in local law enforcement. However, it could delay federal responses to immigration violations if local agencies cannot assist.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it reinforces U.S. federal control over immigration policy, which could influence how the country manages border security and deportation processes affecting foreign nationals.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Primarily DHS and ICE, which would handle all immigration enforcement without state/local support.
- State and Local Governments/Law Enforcement: Officers and agencies currently in 287(g) agreements (about 150 as of recent data) would lose this authority, affecting operations in states like Florida, Arizona, and Texas.
- Immigrant Communities and Advocacy Groups: Undocumented immigrants and their families may benefit from less localized enforcement, while groups supporting stricter immigration controls might oppose the shift.
- Members of Congress: Introduced by a bipartisan group of House Democrats focused on civil rights and immigration reform, indicating support from progressive lawmakers.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Strengthens the federal government's monopoly on immigration enforcement under the INA, aligning with court rulings (e.g., those affirming immigration as a federal domain) and potentially reducing lawsuits over state-federal conflicts in enforcement.
- Constitutional Implications: Reinforces the Supremacy Clause (Article VI of the U.S. Constitution), which prioritizes federal law over state actions, and echoes anti-commandeering principles (e.g., from Supreme Court cases like Printz v. United States, 1997) by prohibiting forced or voluntary state involvement in federal duties.
- Political Implications: The bill highlights ongoing debates over immigration federalism, with potential to polarize views on local vs. federal roles; if passed, it could shift enforcement dynamics amid national discussions on border security and civil liberties.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (22)
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-18: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-12-18: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protecting the Rights Of Towns against federal Enforcement contrary to Constitutional Tenets for Immigration Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-18 — PDF (2 pages)