Whether your community is a densely populated city or a rural county, law enforcement is most effective when victims and witnesses of crimes feel safe communicating and cooperating with local authorities. This will not be possible if our local law enforcement is directed to do the work of federal immigration enforcement.

A 2019 survey of undocumented immigrants revealed that, “when respondents are told that local law enforcement officials are working with ICE on federal immigration enforcement, they are 60.8 percent less likely to report crimes they witness to the police [and] 42.9 percent less likely to report crimes they are victims of to the police.” A national study from 2024 demonstrated that when interior immigration enforcement expanded,  Latinos—including American citizens—were less likely to report crimes, and likely as a result, experienced increased victimization.  
 

If we want to keep our communities safe, residents who call 911 to report a crime cannot fear that they will subsequently be arrested themselves. 
 

That is why I will soon be introducing legislation to limit local entanglements with federal immigration enforcement. My bill will prohibit local law enforcement resources from being used for civil immigration enforcement, including inquiring about status, arresting or detaining individuals without criminal warrants, and sharing data. The purpose of this is to keep criminal law enforcement resources focused on criminal law enforcement.  
 

Please join me in cosponsoring this legislation.