Pennsylvania HB 2200: An Act amending Title 44 (Law and Justice) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for enforcement of civil immigration law and for prohibited use of funds.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2893
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2200
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY PIELLI, HOHENSTEIN, BOYD, KHAN, FRIEL, KENYATTA,
SALISBURY, FIEDLER, KAZEEM, KINKEAD, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, SAPPEY,
WAXMAN, KRAJEWSKI, SMITH-WADE-EL, SANCHEZ, OTTEN, MAYES,
FRANKEL, MADDEN, HOWARD, O'MARA, SHUSTERMAN, WARREN,
MALAGARI, BRENNAN, BOROWSKI, D. WILLIAMS, TAKAC, HANBIDGE,
HILL-EVANS, ISAACSON, BURGOS, RIVERA AND CURRY,
FEBRUARY 5, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, FEBRUARY 9, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 44 (Law and Justice) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, providing for enforcement of civil
immigration law and for prohibited use of funds.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Part II of Title 44 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 25
ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL IMMIGRATION LAW
Sec.
2501. Scope of chapter.
2502. Definitions.
2503. Requirements .
2504. Identification procedures.
§ 2501. Scope of chapter.
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This chapter relates to the enforcement of civil immigration
law by State Police.
§ 2502. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Administrative immigration warrant." A formal written
document, which can be signed by an immigration judge or a
Federal immigration authority, authorizing a law enforcement
officer from a Federal immigration authority to make an arrest
or a seizure of a foreign national for an alleged violation of
immigration law.
"Administrative judge." As defined under 42 Pa.C.S. § 102
(relating to definitions).
"Federal immigration authority."
(1) An officer, employee or person otherwise paid by or
acting as an agent of the United States Department of
Homeland Security, including, but not limited to:
(i) The Department of Homeland Security's
subagencies.
(ii) United States Immigration and Customs
Enforcement.
(iii) United States Customs and Border Protection.
(iv) Any current or future division of the
Department of Homeland Security responsible for
immigration enforcement.
(2) The term shall include any officer, employee or
person exercising Federal civil immigration authority under 8
U.S.C. § 1357(g) (relating to powers of immigration officers
and employees) and those from other Federal agencies who have
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been deputized to perform immigration enforcement.
"Foreign national." An individual who is a citizen or
national of any country other than the United States.
"Immigration detainer." A request or notification from a
Federal immigration authority of intent to assume custody of an
arrestee or detainee, which is usually accompanied by a request
that the arresting agency or other custodian maintain custody of
the arrestee or detainee for a period not to exceed 48 hours to
facilitate transfer of the arrestee or detainee by a Federal
immigration authority into Federal custody.
"Immigration enforcement." As follows:
(1) An effort to investigate, enforce or assist in the
investigation or enforcement of a Federal civil immigration
law.
(2) The term includes an effort to investigate, enforce
or assist in the investigation or enforcement of a Federal
criminal immigration law that penalizes a person's presence
in, entry or reentry to or employment in the United States,
including a violation of 8 U.S.C. §§ 1253 (relating to
penalties related to removal), 1324c (relating to penalties
for document fraud), 1325 (relating to improper entry by
alien) and 1326 (relating to reentry of removed aliens).
"Immigration judge." An administrative judge who has
authority under 8 CFR 1240.41 (relating to immigration judges).
"Immigration status." An individual's status with respect to
Federal immigration law, nationality or citizenship, including
information that an individual:
(1) has previously been deported or removed;
(2) is sought by a Federal immigration authority for
deportation or removal; or
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(3) otherwise appears to be deportable or removable.
"State Police." The Pennsylvania State Police.
§ 2503. Requirements.
State Police personnel shall abide by the following
requirements:
(1) State Police personnel may not stop, search,
investigate or attempt to detain or arrest an individual
based upon the individual's immigration status or the
suspicion, knowledge or evidence of an administrative
immigration warrant or immigration detainer.
(2) State Police personnel are prohibited from
questioning an individual regarding the individual's
immigration status, unless the individual's immigration
status is necessary to further an ongoing criminal
investigation that is unrelated to immigratio