July 23, 2025
Mr. Risch (for himself, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Lee, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Justice, Mr. Scott of Florida, and Mr. Johnson) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To amend section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify congressional intent with respect to agreements under such section, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the 287(g) Program Protection Act
.
Sec. 2. Clarification of congressional intent
Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1357(g)) is amended—
(1)
by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
(1)
(A)
Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall enter into a written agreement with a State, or any political subdivision of a State, upon request of the State or political subdivision, pursuant to which law enforcement officers of such State or subdivision, who the Secretary determines are qualified to perform a function of an immigration officer in relation to the investigation, apprehension, or detention of aliens in the United States (including the transportation of such aliens across State lines to detention centers), may carry out such function at the expense of the State or political subdivision.
(B)
All requests described in subparagraph (A) from a bona fide State or political subdivision or a bona fide law enforcement agency shall be approved absent a compelling reason. If the Secretary denies a request described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary, not later than 180 days before finalizing such denial, shall—
(i)
submit to Congress an explanation containing the reasons for denying such request; and
(ii)
publish such explanation in the Federal Register.
(C)
The Secretary may not place any limit on the number of agreements that may be approved under this subsection. The Secretary shall process each request for such an agreement as expeditiously as possible and never later than the date that is 90 days after the date on which the request is received.
(D)
In this subsection, any reference to a political subdivision shall be construed to include any law enforcement or corrections agency of such political subdivision.;
(2)
by striking Attorney General
each place such term appears and inserting Secretary
;
(3)
by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (10) as paragraphs (5) through (13), respectively;
(4)
by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
(2)
An agreement under this subsection shall accommodate a requesting State or political subdivision with respect to the enforcement model or combination of models, and shall accommodate a patrol model, task force model, jail model, any combination thereof, or any other reasonable model the State or political subdivision believes is best suited to the immigration enforcement needs of its jurisdiction.
(3)
No Federal program or technology directed broadly at identifying inadmissible or deportable aliens shall substitute for such agreements, including those establishing a jail model, and shall operate in addition to any agreement under this subsection.
(4)
(A)
No agreement under this subsection may be terminated absent a compelling reason.
(B)
(i)
The Secretary shall provide a State or political subdivision written notice of intent to terminate at least 180 days prior to date of intended termination, and the notice shall fully explain the grounds for termination, along with providing evidence substantiating the Secretary’s allegations.
(ii)
In order to determine whether the requirements of this paragraph have been satisfied, the State or political subdivision shall have the right—
(I)
to appeal the decision of the Secretary to an administrative law judge for a hearing and decision; or
(II)
to bring a civil action in an appropriate court of jurisdiction.
(C)
The agreement shall remain in full effect during the course of any and all legal proceedings.; and
(5)
in paragraph (6), as redesignated, by adding at the end the following: The Secretary of Homeland Security shall implement uniform training requirements for law enforcement officers who are, or will be, performing a function of an immigration officer authorized under this subsection. The training requirements shall align with Federal Law Enforcement Training Center standards for training under this subsection (as in effect on the date of the enactment of the 287(g) Program Protection Act).
.
Sec. 3. Funding
Section 286(r) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(r)) is amended—
(1)
in the subsection heading, by striking Breached Bond/Detention Fund
and inserting Breached Bond/Detention/287(g) Fund
;
(2)
by striking Attorney General
each place such term appears and inserting Secretary of Homeland Security
;
(3)
in paragraph (1), by striking Breached Bond/Detention
and inserting Breached Bond/Detention/287(g)
;
(4)
in paragraph (2), by striking Department of Justice, and amount described in section 245(i)(3)(b)
and inserting Department of Homeland Security, and the amount described in section 245(i)(3)(B)
; and
(5)
in paragraph (3)—
(A)
in clause (i), by striking , and
at the end and inserting a semicolon;
(B)
in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(iv)
for expenses associated with administering section 287(g).
Sec. 4. Annual performance report and recruitment plan
(a) Annual performance report
Not later than December 31 of the first fiscal year that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not later than December 31 of each year thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall publish an annual performance report on the program authorized under section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by section 2, which includes—
(1)
the number of aliens apprehended and screened by law enforcement through such program;
(2)
the number of aliens removed from the United States as a result of the program;
(3)
the number of aliens described in paragraph (1) who were not removed and an explanation for why they were not removed;
(4)
the methods being used to conduct oversight of each law enforcement agency participating under the program;
(5)
the number of law enforcement agencies in compliance with the program’s training requirements;
(6)
the number of complaints filed against law enforcement agencies claiming they did not comply their written agreement entered into under such section;
(7)
the number of law enforcement agencies that had such written agreement terminated; and
(8)
the reasons for such termination.
(b) Annual recruitment plan
Not later than December 31 of the first fiscal year that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not later than December 31 of each year thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall publish an annual recruitment plan with respect to the program authorized under section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by section 2, which includes—
(1)
annual goals for the following 5 years with respect to the recruitment of new States and political subdivisions of States to participate in the program;
(2)
the number of new States and political subdivisions of States participating in the program during each year;
(3)
a description of the outreach to States and political subdivisions of States conducted for the program and the other methods used to achieve recruitment goals; and
(4)
the number of requests for agreements that—
(A)
were received during the reporting period;
(B)
were approved during the reporting period;
(C)
were denied during the reporting period; or
(D)
are pending approval as of the last day of the reporting period.
Sec. 5. Rulemaking
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall publish a notice of rulemaking with respect to the training requirements under section 287(g)(6) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by section 2(5).