US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US Federal House Bill HB578

Introduced
1/21/25  

Caption

Sarah's LawThis bill requires the Department of Justice or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain a non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) who is unlawfully present in the United States and has been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of a crime that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury of another person.DHS must obtain information about the identity of any victims of the crimes for which the detained individual was charged or convicted. DHS shall provide the victim, or a relative or guardian of a deceased victim, with information about the detained individual, including name, date of birth, nationality, immigration status, criminal history, and a description of any related removal efforts.

Impact

Should HB 578 be enacted, it will lead to more stringent immigration detention policies, primarily focusing on those who pose a substantial threat to public safety due to their criminal charges. The community and legislative discourse around this bill suggests a level of contention, particularly concerning its implications for due process and the potential for increased deportations, which some critics argue could disproportionately affect certain communities. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide timely notifications to victims of crimes committed by the detained aliens, ensuring that victims' rights are considered within the immigration framework.

Summary

House Bill 578, also known as 'Sarah's Law', mandates that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detain certain undocumented individuals who have been charged with crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury. This proposal reflects a significant shift in how the government handles undocumented individuals involved in serious legal offenses, aiming to enhance public safety and accountability within the immigration system. The bill is a response to growing concerns surrounding violent crimes committed by undocumented aliens and positions itself as a preventive measure against potential future offenses.

Contention

The primary points of contention surrounding HB 578 revolve around the balance between public safety and civil liberties. Proponents of the bill argue that it is a necessary step to protect communities from individuals who have committed serious offenses, viewing mandatory detention as a means to prevent further violence. Conversely, opponents warn that such measures could exacerbate the already complicated immigration challenges and lead to unjust detentions without adequate legal recourse for the affected individuals. Skeptics of the bill emphasize the need for a more nuanced approach that considers the individual circumstances of undocumented immigrants rather than blanket policies.

Congress_id

119-HR-578

Policy_area

Immigration

Introduced_date

2025-01-21

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US SB84

Sarah's Law This bill requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain a non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) who is unlawfully present in the United States and has been charged with a crime that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury of another person. ICE must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the identity of any victims of the crimes for which the detained individual was charged or convicted. ICE shall provide the victim, or a relative or guardian of a deceased victim, with information about the detained individual, including name, date of birth, nationality, immigration status, criminal history, and a description of any related removal efforts.

US SB149

Public Safety First ActThis bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. Specifically, DHS must detain an individual who (1) is unlawfully present in the United States or did not possess the necessary documents when applying for admission; and (2) has been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.

US HB909

Relating to law enforcement misconduct and law enforcement interactions with certain detained or arrested individuals and other members of the public, to public entity liability for those interactions, and to the confinement, conviction, or release of detained or arrested individuals.

US HB29

Laken Riley ActThis bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. The bill also authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement.Under this bill, DHS must detain an individual who (1) is unlawfully present in the United States or did not possess the necessary documents when applying for admission; and (2) has been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.The bill also authorizes state governments to sue for injunctive relief over certain immigration-related decisions or alleged failures by the federal government if the decision or failure caused the state or its residents harm, including financial harm of more than $100. Specifically, the state government may sue the federal government over adecision to release a non-U.S. national from custody;failure to fulfill requirements relating to inspecting individuals seeking admission into the United States, including requirements related to asylum interviews;failure to fulfill a requirement to stop issuing visas to nationals of a country that unreasonably denies or delays acceptance of nationals of that country;violation of limitations on immigration parole, such as the requirement that parole be granted only on a case-by-case basis; orfailure to detain an individual who has been ordered removed from the United States.

US HB205

No Congressional Funds for Sanctuary Cities ActThis bill prohibits federal funds from being used as congressionally directed spending (i.e., an earmark) for jurisdictions that withhold information about citizenship or immigration status or do not cooperate with immigration detainers.Specifically, such funds are denied to any jurisdiction that has a law, policy, or practice that prohibits or restricts any government entity frommaintaining, sending, or receiving information regarding the citizenship or immigration status of any individual;exchanging information regarding an individual's citizenship or immigration status with a federal, state, or local government entity;complying with a valid immigration detainer from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); ornotifying DHS about an individual's release from custody.The funding restriction does not apply to a law, policy, or practice that only applies to an individual who comes forward as a victim of or a witness to a criminal offense.This prohibition begins in FY2026.

US HB61

Ensuring United Families at the Border ActThis bill addresses the treatment of children who are non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law), including by statutorily establishing that there is no presumption that such a child (other than an unaccompanied child) should not be detained for immigration purposes.Specifically, the bill states that the detention of such minors shall be governed by specified sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act and not any other provision of law, judicial ruling, or settlement agreement.(A 1997 settlement agreement, commonly known as the Flores agreement, imposes requirements relating to the treatment of detained alien minors, including requiring such minors to be released or placed in a nonsecure facility after a certain amount of time in detention.)If an adult enters the United States unlawfully with their child, the Department of Homeland Security must detain the adult and child together if the only criminal charge against the adult is a misdemeanor for unlawful entry.This bill also prohibits states from imposing licensing requirements on immigration detention facilities used to detain minors or families with minors.

US HB4703

To establish a system to track, record, and report all instances in which a United States citizen or individual lawfully admitted for permanent resident was, for the purpose of immigration enforcement, detained or removed by the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

US A07449

Provides that if a prosecutor withholds information proving the innocence of an individual convicted of or charged with a crime, such prosecutor shall be guilty of a felony with the term of imprisonment being twice that of the term of imprisonment the individual charged with the crime is faced with or twice that which the individual has been sentenced to.

US HB3856

Relating to immigration documentation or other information to verify citizenship or immigration status and to notification to the federal government of an arrested or detained person who is unlawfully present in the United States; creating a criminal offense.

US HB299

Transparency of Migration Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make publicly available online certain information about individuals unlawfully present in the United States who are (1) apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and sent to a federal detention center or released into the United States, or (2) processed through an HHS facility. This information must be updated weekly and must include daily numbers, the country of origin of such individuals, and other details.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.