Issue Brief: State Legislators Respond to Federal Immigration Policy and Enforcement

In response to ongoing changes in federal immigration policy and enforcement, states are taking an active role in shaping how immigration laws are carried out within their borders. As federal agencies implement new strategies that raise concerns about civil rights, local authority, and transparency, state lawmakers are taking steps to clarify and shape the role of state and local governments in immigration enforcement.

This memo outlines four core tools available to state legislators - legislation, oversight and investigatory powers, litigation, and strategic communications - and provides recent examples of each in the ongoing effort to address evolving federal immigration policies. It in intended to serve as a practical reference for deploying state authority in defense of communities, rule of law, and democratic institutions.