H.R. 1680: To amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to expand the prohibition on State noncompliance with enforcement of the immigration laws, and for other purposes.

UPLIFT Act

• Enhanced Compliance with Federal Immigration Laws: The bill seeks to broadly prohibit any federal, state, or local government entity or individual from enacting measures that restrict government officials or personnel from complying with federal immigration laws and policies.
• Protection of Specific Law Enforcement Activities: It explicitly prevents government entities from hindering certain law enforcement activities:
  • Inquiring about an individual's citizenship or immigration status;
  • Notifying the federal government about individuals reasonably suspected of being involved in a crime; and
  • Complying with requests for information from federal law enforcement agencies.
• Facilitating Immigration Detention: The bill aims to prevent any governmental restrictions on:
  • Entering into agreements for immigration detention facilities that are privately owned, managed, or operated.
  • Selling government-owned property for the purpose of establishing such detention facilities.
  • Paying costs associated with the sale, construction, development, ownership, management, or operation of these private detention facilities.
  • Receiving payments related to the detention of individuals in such facilities.
• Legal Recourse for Local Jurisdictions: H.R. 1680 would grant local government entities legal standing to sue their respective state governments in federal district court if they allege that the state is violating these provisions and causing harm (including financial harm exceeding $100) to the local entity or its residents.
• Annual Compliance Reporting: The bill mandates that the Secretary of Homeland Security annually determine which states or local government entities are not in compliance with these expanded provisions and report these findings to Congress by March 1 of each subsequent year.