Restoring Community Trust Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 7252

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-01-27: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-02-06T05:23:16Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Restoring Community Trust Act of 2026 aims to repeal a specific federal law that requires state and local governments to share certain immigration-related information with federal immigration authorities. The bill seeks to restore balance between federal and state powers, reduce legal conflicts, and allow state and local governments more control over their own operations, while emphasizing that it does not prevent voluntary cooperation on immigration matters.

Key Provisions

• Findings Section: The bill includes 11 detailed findings by Congress, highlighting:
• The U.S. Constitution's principle of dual sovereignty, where federal and state governments have separate areas of authority (e.g., states manage their own employees and operations).
• Supreme Court rulings (such as New York v. United States in 1992, Printz v. United States in 1997, and Murphy v. NCAA in 2018) that prevent the federal government from forcing states to enforce federal rules or controlling state internal affairs.
• How the targeted law (section 642) interferes with state and local policies on information sharing, erodes trust between communities and public services (like law enforcement), and creates unnecessary burdens without aiding federal immigration enforcement.
• Clarification that repealing the law would not weaken federal immigration powers or stop states from choosing to share information if allowed by their own laws.
• Repeal Clause: Directly eliminates section 642 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (codified at 8 U.S.C. 1373), which mandated that state and local agencies could not restrict sharing of immigration status information with federal immigration officials.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The repeal removes a 1996 requirement that prohibited state and local governments from limiting how their employees communicate immigration-related information (such as an individual's citizenship or immigration status) with federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
• This ends federal mandates on state/local information-sharing policies, shifting from a "no restrictions" rule to allowing states and localities to decide based on their own laws and priorities.
• No new requirements or penalties are added; the change is purely eliminative, preserving federal tools for immigration enforcement outside of state compulsion.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: State and local agencies (e.g., police, schools, hospitals) gain flexibility to set policies that protect community trust, potentially reducing administrative costs from lawsuits or compliance. Federal immigration agencies may need to rely more on their own resources for information gathering, but the bill states this would not hinder their overall enforcement.
• On Citizens: Immigrant communities and residents in mixed-status families (where some members are citizens or legal residents and others are not) could experience less fear of interactions with local services, improving access to public safety, health, and emergency aid. Non-immigrants benefit from stronger community-law enforcement ties.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic federal-state dynamics rather than foreign policy or border enforcement with other countries.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• State and Local Governments: Primary beneficiaries, as they regain control over internal policies without federal overrides.
• Law Enforcement and Public Agencies: Local police, schools, and health services can prioritize community engagement over mandatory federal reporting.
• Immigrant and Minority Communities: Likely to see improved trust in government services, reducing barriers to reporting crimes or seeking help.
• Federal Immigration Authorities (e.g., DHS/ICE): Unaffected in core enforcement powers but may face indirect challenges in obtaining local data.
• Bipartisan Lawmakers and Advocacy Groups: Sponsors include Democrats from diverse districts, indicating support from civil rights, immigrant rights, and federalism-focused groups.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Constitutional Implications: Reinforces the anti-commandeering doctrine from Supreme Court cases, which bars the federal government from forcing states to carry out federal duties. This could resolve ongoing debates and litigation over whether section 642 unconstitutionally intrudes on state sovereignty.
• Legal Implications: Reduces ambiguity in how federal grants (like those for law enforcement) interact with state policies, potentially lowering court challenges. The bill explicitly preserves voluntary state-federal cooperation and federal immigration authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
• Political Implications: Highlights tensions in immigration policy between federal enforcement and local autonomy, appealing to federalism advocates while addressing concerns about community trust in diverse areas. As an introduced bill in the 119th Congress (referred to the Judiciary Committee), it reflects cross-party interest but may spark debate on national security versus civil liberties.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]

Cosponsors (11)

Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]

Recent Actions

• 2026-01-27: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2026-01-27: Introduced in House
• 2026-01-27: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Restoring Community Trust Act of 2026 — issued 2026-01-27 — PDF (4 pages)