[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7252 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7252

 To repeal section 642 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant 
                      Responsibility Act of 1996.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 27, 2026

  Ms. Garcia of Texas (for herself, Mr. Espaillat, Ms. Clarke of New 
 York, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. Titus, Mr. 
   Carter of Louisiana, Ms. Salinas, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, and Ms. 
   Pingree) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To repeal section 642 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant 
                      Responsibility Act of 1996.

    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 ``Restoring Community Trust Act of 
2026''.

SEC. REPEAL OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND THE 
              IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Constitution clearly establishes a system of dual 
        sovereignty in which the Federal Government and the States 
        retain distinct and independent spheres of authority, including 
        primary responsibility for the organization, administration, 
        and supervision of State and local government employees.
            (2) Under Supreme Court precedent, including New York v. 
        United States (1992), Printz v. United States (1997), and 
        Murphy v. NCAA (2018), the Federal Government may not compel 
        States or political subdivisions to administer or enforce 
        Federal regulatory programs. It also may not prohibit States 
        from controlling their internal governmental operations.
            (3) Section 642 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
        Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1373) threatens 
        the ability of State and local governments to establish 
        policies governing the receipt, use, and disclosure of 
        information by their own public institutions, intruding into 
        areas of traditional State and local authority.
            (4) State and local governments have a substantial interest 
        in fostering trust between residents and public institutions, 
        including law enforcement, to promote public safety, emergency 
        response, and community engagement.
            (5) Many interactions between individuals and State or 
        local agencies occur for purposes completely unrelated to 
        Federal immigration enforcement, and information sharing in 
        such contexts may undermine the effectiveness of those 
        governmental functions.
            (6) The Federal Government retains exclusive authority over 
        civil immigration enforcement and possesses independent tools 
        and resources to enforce Federal immigration law without trying 
        to regulate State or local governments.
            (7) A repeal of section 642 of the Illegal Immigration 
        Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1373) 
        would not limit the Federal Government's authority to enforce 
        Federal immigration law or to obtain information through means 
        otherwise authorized by law.
            (8) Section 642 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
        Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1373) has 
        generated legal uncertainty and litigation concerning its 
        constitutionality and its interaction with Federal grant 
        programs, imposing administrative and financial burdens on 
        State and local governments.
            (9) Effective governance is best achieved when 
        responsibility for Federal law enforcement remains with Federal 
        authorities and responsibility for State and local government 
        remains with State and local officials accountable to their 
        residents.
            (10) The purpose of repealing section 642 of the Illegal 
        Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 
        U.S.C. 1373) is to restore constitutional balance, reduce legal 
        ambiguity, and respect State and local control over internal 
        governmental operations.
            (11) That nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
        prohibit or restrict any State or unit of local government from 
        communicating, cooperating, or sharing information with a 
        Federal immigration authority, consistent with applicable State 
        or local law or otherwise limit the authority of the Federal 
        Government to enforce the immigration laws (as such term is 
        defined under section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality 
        Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)).
    (b) Repeal.--Section 642 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1373) is repealed.
                                 <all>