Rhode Island HB 8140: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LIMITATIONS ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION

Bill Text

2026 -- H 8140
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LIMITATIONS ON
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION
Introduced By: Representatives Furtado, Boylan, Handy, and Cruz
Date Introduced: February 27, 2026
Referred To: House Judiciary

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND 1
GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 2
CHAPTER 169 3
LIMITATIONS ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION 4
42-169-1. Definitions. 5
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 6
(1) “Federal immigration authority” means any officer, employee, or agent of a federal 7
agency charged with enforcement of civil immigration laws. 8
(2) “Immigration detainer” means a request from a federal immigration authority to 9
maintain custody of an individual for immigration enforcement purposes. 10
(3) “287(g) agreement” means any agreement authorized under 8 U.S.C. §1357(g) 11
delegating immigration enforcement powers to state or local officers. 12
(4) “Law enforcement agency” means any state or municipal law enforcement agency or 13
correctional facility in the State of Rhode Island. 14
42-169-2. Prohibition on 287(g) agreements. 15
No state or local law enforcement agency shall enter into, renew, or participate in a 287(g) 16
agreement or any substantially similar agreement delegating federal immigration enforcement 17
authority to a state or local law enforcement officer. 18

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42-169-3. Detainers and administrative warrants. 1
No law enforcement agency shall arrest or detain an individual based solely on an 2
immigration detainer or administrative warrant. 3
42-169-4. Use of resources. 4
No law enforcement agency shall use funds, personnel, property, or equipment to 5
investigate, interrogate, or detain a person solely for civil immigration enforcement. 6
42-169-5. Exceptions. 7
Nothing in this chapter prohibits cooperation related to criminal investigations unrelated to 8
immigration status or compliance with a valid judicial warrant or order. 9
42-169-6. Records and transparency. 10
Law enforcement agencies shall document any request from a federal immigration 11
authority and publish annual statistics on the number and type of requests received. 12
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 13
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LIMITATIONS ON
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION
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This act would bar state and local police from joining federal immigration enforcement 1
programs, limit holding people on detainers without judicial warrants, and require tracking and 2
reporting of requests. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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