Legislation

This bill expands county sheriffs’ authority and the authority of jails not operated by sheriffs to indefinitely detain individuals for civil immigration purposes, insulates law enforcement from accountability, and removes longstanding democratic oversight. The combined effects of this bill—which is part of a larger legislative attack on immigrants and people of color—raise serious constitutional concerns. It significantly expands the authority of federal law enforcement in Kansas, weakens accountability, and threatens Kansans’ right to engage in lawful dissent.

Prohibiting undocumented immigrants who are unlawfully present in the United States from receiving any state or local public benefit in accordance with applicable federal law.

Rewriting state statutes to treat federal officers as state and local law enforcement, extending Kansas criminal penalties to interactions with federal agents, and arbitrarily broadening tort immunity to cover enforcement of federal laws and executive orders.

Expands county sheriffs’ authority to detain individuals for civil immigration purposes, insulates law enforcement from accountability, and removes longstanding democratic oversight.

Expands county sheriffs’ authority to detain individuals for civil immigration purposes, insulates law enforcement from accountability, and removes longstanding democratic oversight.

Requiring certain state agencies to make quarterly reports to the Secretary of State with the names, addresses, dates of birth, and the last four digits of Social Security Numbers of noncitizens receiving public benefits.

The 2021 legislative session was marked by one overlying theme from start to finish for the ACLU of Kansas: playing defense. These defensive efforts came at the expense of expanding rights for Kansans.