Several states have proposed laws addressing immigration. To date, those state immigration laws are not active due to ongoing legal challenges from the Biden administration. However, under Pam Bondi, President-elect Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, state-level immigration enforcement laws may see support.
Upon confirmation from Congress, Ms. Bondi will head the U.S. Department of Justice. It is seemingly unlikely, based on previous statements, she will continue to challenge the state-proposed laws. Iowa, Texas, and Oklahoma have recently passed laws giving their state law enforcement officials the authority to stop and hold individuals they believe are in the country without a legal status.
The Biden administration argues that immigration is solely a federal government responsibility in challenging the state laws. In 2012, Ms. Bondi supported Arizona’s Senate Bill 1070, which gave state law enforcement officials the authority to ascertain immigration status based on reasonable suspicion. In her role as attorney general for the state of Florida, she showed further support to similar efforts.
If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Our clients work directly with their attorney to ensure they get the right advice for their particular situation.
