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This bill would make certain state and local governments lose some federal transportation and infrastructure money if they do not have a rule requiring officials to warn federal immigration authorities before releasing some people from custody. The notice would apply only when federal officials have already told the local jail or sheriff that the person is not lawfully in the United States, the person has been held for at least 48 hours, and the release is planned at least 48 hours after that federal notice. In simple terms, it is aimed at forcing local governments to give immigration authorities advance warning before letting some detained noncitizens go, or else risk losing funding for projects like highways and other infrastructure work.
- The Transportation Secretary could not give or send certain federal infrastructure funds to a state or local government that does not have this notice policy in place within one year after the law takes effect.
- The required notice would have to be sent to the Department of Homeland Security, or its representative, at least 48 hours before the person is released.
- This would apply only if DHS has already said the person is not lawfully present in the United States and has already told the jail, sheriff, or other detaining authority about that legal status at least 48 hours earlier.
- The bill says “infrastructure project” has the same meaning it already has in federal transportation rules, and it would add this new funding rule to federal highway law.
Official Summaries
Blocking Lawless Open Border Cities and States Act of 2025 or the BLOC Act
This bill prohibits federal funding of certain infrastructure and transportation projects in jurisdictions that do not require federal notification prior to release from custody of a non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) who is not lawfully present.
Specifically, the Department of Transportation is prohibited from providing funds for infrastructure projects, including for highway construction, to a political subdivision of a state that does not have certain statutory requirements or other practices in place a year after enactment of this bill. Political subdivisions of a state must require entities of the political subdivision to notify the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 48 hours prior to releasing from custody an individual determined to be not lawfully present in the United States if DHS has notified the entity of the status of the individual and the individual has been in custody for at least 48 hours.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1913 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1913
To amend title 23, United States Code, to limit certain Federal funding
to States that do not have a process to notify the Secretary of
Homeland Security of the release from custody or detainment certain
aliens under certain circumstances, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 6, 2025
Mr. Crank introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 23, United States Code, to limit certain Federal funding
to States that do not have a process to notify the Secretary of
Homeland Security of the release from custody or detainment certain
aliens under certain circumstances, 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 ``Blocking Lawless Open Border Cities
and States Act of 2025'' or the ``BLOC Act''.
SEC. 2. INELIGIBILITY OF SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS FOR CERTAIN FEDERAL
FUNDS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 6 of title 23, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 612. Ineligibility of sanctuary jurisdictions for certain
Federal funds
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall not
obligate or award funds for any infrastructure project, including for
highway construction, to a political subdivision of a State, nor shall
any funds obligated or awarded to a State, go to any political
subdivision of a State that does not have in effect not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of the BLOC Act a statute, ordinance,
policy, or practice requiring an entity or official of such political
subdivision to notify the Secretary of Homeland Security (or designee
thereof) not later than 48 hours before of the release from custody or
detainment of an alien if--
``(1) the Secretary of Homeland Security (or designee
thereof) has determined that such alien is not lawfully present
in the United States;
``(2) not later than 48 hours before such release, the
Secretary of Homeland Security (or designee thereof) has
notified the sheriff or detaining entity of such State or
political subdivision of the legal status of such alien; and
``(3) such alien has been in custody or detainment for not
less than 48 hours before such release.
``(b) Definition of Infrastructure Project.--In this section, the
term `infrastructure project' has the meaning given such term in
section 184.3 of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on
the date of enactment of the BLOC Act).''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 6 of title 23,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``612. Ineligibility of sanctuary jurisdictions for certain Federal
funds.''.
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