287(g) Cooperation Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 8077

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Immigration

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-03-25: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-06-11T08:07:18Z

AI-Generated Summary

H.R. 8077: 287(g) Cooperation Act of 2026

Purpose

This bill aims to encourage state and local law enforcement agencies to partner with federal immigration authorities by tying eligibility for federal community policing grants to participation in the 287(g) program. The 287(g) program allows local agencies to enter agreements (called memorandums of agreement, or MOAs) with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to help enforce immigration laws under federal supervision.

Key Provisions

• Mandated Participation: Any state or local law enforcement agency that does not enter a 287(g) MOA with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary within 180 days of enactment becomes ineligible for grants under the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program or any similar program run by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
• Verification Process: The U.S. Attorney General must consult with the DHS Secretary to confirm whether an agency has entered such an MOA before approving any COPS grant.
• Effective Date: Applies to all COPS grant applications starting in fiscal year 2027 and beyond.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1357(g)) by adding a new paragraph (10) that links 287(g) participation to COPS grant eligibility.
• Redesignates existing paragraphs (10) and (11) as (11) and (12) to accommodate the new requirement.
• Introduces a new financial incentive (or penalty) not previously tied to the voluntary 287(g) program.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Local and state police departments may lose access to COPS grants (which fund hiring officers, technology, and community policing), prompting more agencies to join 287(g). DOJ grant administrators face new compliance checks; DHS/ICE could gain more local partners for immigration enforcement.
• Citizens and Communities: Areas relying on COPS funding for policing might see reduced services if agencies opt out of 287(g), potentially affecting public safety. Increased local immigration enforcement could change community trust in police.
• No Direct International Relations Impact: Focuses on domestic law enforcement cooperation.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• State and Local Governments/Law Enforcement: Directly required to enter 287(g) MOAs or forfeit grants.
• Department of Justice (DOJ): Oversees COPS grants and must verify compliance.
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/ICE: Benefits from expanded local partnerships.
• Communities: Particularly those in areas with high immigrant populations or dependence on COPS-funded policing.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Federal Funding Conditions: Raises questions about the federal government's ability to attach immigration-related strings to grants, potentially testing limits under the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution (which allows Congress to set conditions on federal funds).
• Federalism Concerns: Could spark debates over whether this pressures states and localities into federal immigration policy, implicating the 10th Amendment (reserving powers to states).
• Political Neutrality: The bill is introduced by Republican representatives and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, signaling partisan focus on immigration enforcement, but its text is narrowly targeted at grant eligibility without broader mandates.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]

Cosponsors (15)

Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8], Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5], Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6], Rep. Griffith, H. Morgan [R-VA-9], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27], Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5], Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10], Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2], Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]

Recent Actions

• 2026-03-25: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2026-03-25: Introduced in House
• 2026-03-25: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• 287(g) Cooperation Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-25 — PDF (3 pages)