U.S. State & Local Enforcement

Testing the Limits: A Framework for Assessing the Legality of State and Local Immigration Measures

This report provides a framework for assessing the legal validity of state legislative measures that address unauthorized immigration, including when they are pre-empted by federal authority.

New York Governor Abandons Driver's Licenses for the Unauthorized

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer abandoned a plan to license unauthorized immigrants, laying bare the limits of state action when federal immigration policy stalls.

Arizona Hosts Groups on Both Sides of the Immigration Debate

Arizona has become a hub for advocacy groups on both sides of the U.S. immigration debate.

Blurring the Lines: A Profile of State and Local Police Enforcement of Immigration Law Using NCIC Database

A first glimpse at use of federal records by local police raised critical questions about the blurring of lines between criminal law enforcement and civil immigration enforcement.

Documentation Provisions of the Real ID Act

The REAL ID Act's identity document mandates carry steep, disputed costs and raise unresolved legal, privacy, and humanitarian concerns.

Authority of State and Local Officers to Arrest Aliens Suspected of Civil Infractions of Federal Immigration Law