New Issue Brief Documents Wave of State Laws Enacted to Counter Federal Overreach on Immigration and Rule of Law
State Futures brief highlights dozens of new state laws responding to federal overreach - from restricting anonymous policing to protecting sensitive locations and safeguarding personal data amid escalating federal enforcement activity.
Washington, DC – August 13 – The past year has seen unprecedented actions by federal agencies, including masked immigration raids, efforts to pressure state and local officials, and violent killings of everyday people at the hands of federal agents. As federal agencies push the boundaries of their authority, state legislators have moved quickly to respond, advancing new laws to safeguard due process, protect vulnerable communities, and reassert states' role in overseeing law enforcement within their own borders.
Today, State Futures released a new Issue Brief documenting bills enacted during the 2026 legislative session. Since late 2025, State Futures has tracked nearly 300 bills introduced nationwide in response to federal overreach on immigration and rule of law.
"We saw extraordinary action throughout the 2026 session.” said Gaby Goldstein, President of State Futures. “State legislators across the country are standing up to say that the rule of law is bedrock to our democracy and our society, that states have a critical role to play in safeguarding it, and that state leaders will keep finding new ways to protect communities, no matter what comes next."
So far, legislators passed 53 bills in 17 states on a suite of rule-of-law protections, including:
Bans on 287(g) agreements between state/local police and ICE
No Secret Police bills prohibiting masked law enforcement and requiring visible identification
Protections for sensitive locations such as schools, churches, libraries
Private rights of action allowing residents to sue under state law if their civil rights are violated by federal agents
Regulations on detention centers including increased oversight authority and zoning restrictions
Data and privacy protections such as restrictions on data sharing between government agencies and limits on automatic license plate readers
This is the fourth issue brief in State Futures' ongoing series on state responses to federal immigration enforcement. State Futures has released briefs on state action to hold detention facilities accountable, state responses to aggressive federal law enforcement behavior, and state action to create legal avenues to protect rights. All State Futures issue briefs are available at statefutures.org/research.
Journalists covering law enforcement, immigration policy, civil liberties, data privacy, or federal-state dynamics are encouraged to read the brief and reach out for interviews. State Futures can connect press with state policymakers actively pursuing these strategies.
Read the full issue brief:
https://www.statefutures.org/research/2026-state-legislative-session-in-review-immigration-and-rule-of-law
About State Futures
State Futures is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit that supports a network of 850+ values-aligned state policymakers, including legislators and State Financial Officers. We support bold, values-aligned state leaders by convening them, equipping them with tools and resources, and empowering collective action to achieve impact beyond any single state.
Media Contact:
Kristen Wilder, Communications
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