2026 -- S 2967

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LC005549

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

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: Senators Mack, Acosta, Quezada, Euer, Kallman, and Bissaillon

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

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GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 169

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LIMITATIONS ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION

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     42-169-1. Definitions.

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     As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

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     (1) “Federal immigration authority” means any officer, employee, or agent of a federal

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agency charged with enforcement of civil immigration laws.

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     (2) “Immigration detainer” means a request from a federal immigration authority to

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maintain custody of an individual for immigration enforcement purposes.

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     (3) “287(g) agreement” means any agreement authorized under 8 U.S.C. §1357(g)

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delegating immigration enforcement powers to state or local officers.

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     (4) “Law enforcement agency” means any state or municipal law enforcement agency or

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correctional facility in the State of Rhode Island.

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     42-169-2. Prohibition on 287(g) agreements.

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     No state or local law enforcement agency shall enter into, renew, or participate in a 287(g)

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agreement or any substantially similar agreement delegating federal immigration enforcement

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authority to a state or local law enforcement officer.

 

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     42-169-3. Detainers and administrative warrants.

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     No law enforcement agency shall arrest or detain an individual based solely on an

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immigration detainer or administrative warrant.

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     42-169-4. Use of resources.

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     No law enforcement agency shall use funds, personnel, property, or equipment to

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investigate, interrogate, or detain a person solely for civil immigration enforcement.

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     42-169-5. Exceptions.

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     Nothing in this chapter prohibits cooperation related to criminal investigations unrelated to

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immigration status or compliance with a valid judicial warrant or order.

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     42-169-6. Records and transparency.

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     Law enforcement agencies shall document any request from a federal immigration

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authority and publish annual statistics on the number and type of requests received.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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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

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programs, limit holding people on detainers without judicial warrants, and require tracking and

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reporting of requests.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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