HB376 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ernie YarbroughRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Illegal immigration; procedures for arrest, detention, transportation of illegal aliens provided for; reporting requirements established; penalties established

Summary

HB376 creates the Laken Riley Act to let Alabama sheriffs, police, and jail staff work with federal authorities to enforce immigration laws, detain and transport illegal aliens, and impose new jail procedures and reporting on immigration status.

What This Bill Does

The bill allows state and local law enforcement to enter memorandums with federal agencies to enforce federal immigration laws and to handle detention, removal, and investigations of illegal aliens. It requires government employees to send, receive, and maintain immigration status information for public safety and grants authority to arrest illegal aliens and transport them to federal custody, with penalties for noncompliance. It also sets standard intake/booking procedures in county and municipal jails, requires jails to honor certain immigration detainer requests, and mandates quarterly reports on foreign nationals; it includes safeguards such as nationalitiy/status verification, consular notification, and good-faith immunity for officers, and it becomes effective June 1, 2024 with an exemption from certain local-expenditure rules.

Who It Affects

• State and local law enforcement agencies (and jail staff) would gain authority to arrest, detain, transport, and share immigration information under federal MOUs, and could face penalties for noncompliance.
• Inmates and foreign nationals in county or municipal jails would be subject to nationality and immigration status verification, potential detention or transfer to federal custody, detainer procedures, consulate notification, and quarterly reporting requirements.

Key Provisions

• Designates Sections 31-13-1 through 31-13-35 as Article 1 and adds Article 2 starting at 31-13-50 to create the Laken Riley Act.
• Allows state and local law enforcement to enter memorandums of understanding with the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies to enforce federal immigration laws and handle detention, removal, and investigations of illegal aliens.
• Requires state and local government employees to send, receive, and maintain immigration status information as reasonably needed for public safety.
• Authorizes arrest of individuals suspected of being illegal aliens or those violating federal immigration law, and permits transporting them to federal custody; provides penalties for noncompliance.
• Establishes standard intake and booking procedures for illegal aliens and foreign nationals in county and municipal jails, with penalties for violations.
• Requires county and municipal jails to honor immigration detainer requests in certain circumstances and to provide quarterly reports on foreign nationals, including statuses and detainers.
• Implements procedures to verify nationality and immigration status in jail, including acceptable documents (e.g., I-94, passport with visa, etc.), and requires notification to LESC/ICE and consulates when necessary; detentions are permitted only as authorized by LESC/ICE and within time limits.
• Provides immunity for officers acting in good faith, and sets penalties for violations; outlines enforcement and liability protections.
• Exempts the act from certain local-expenditure rules in Section 111.05, and states an effective date of June 1, 2024.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Criminal Procedure