H.R. 7252

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

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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.
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