Legal Objectives of North STAR Legislation

Legal Objectives of North STAR Legislation

1. Prohibit State and Local Use of Resources for Civil Immigration Enforcement
   • Forbids the use of state and local law enforcement personnel, data, or funding to support federal civil immigration enforcement activities unless otherwise required by law.
   • It would prohibit sharing personal or demographic data with ICE or DHS for civil enforcement purposes.
2. Prohibit Acceptance of Conditional Federal Funds
   • Disallows acceptance of federal funds that require cooperation with federal immigration enforcement as a condition of receipt.
3. Permit Cooperation in Criminal Investigations
   • It would not prohibit collaboration between state/local law enforcement and federal agencies when investigating criminal activity (as opposed to civil immigration violations) or pursuant to a judicially issued warrant.
4. Reinforce the Legal Division of Authority
   • Affirms that civil immigration enforcement is exclusively a federal responsibility, and that:
     • State and local agencies do not have authority to detain individuals based solely on immigration detainers.
     • Compliance with immigration detainers is voluntary, not mandatory under federal law.
5. Protect Public Safety and Law Enforcement Resources
   • Ensures that local and state agencies prioritize their resources for matters within their legal jurisdiction, thereby:
     • Increasing efficiency.
     • Avoiding entanglement in federal responsibilities.
6. Strengthen Trust Between Immigrant Communities and Law Enforcement
   • Seeks to remove the fear that contacting or cooperating with police could lead to immigration consequences.
   • Aims to increase the reporting of crimes, participation in investigations, and access to emergency services.
7. Reduce Racial Profiling and Prevent Unlawful Detention
   • Limits the potential for racial profiling or the targeting of individuals based on perceived immigration status.
   • Ensures that due process and Fourth Amendment protections are not undermined by local involvement in immigration enforcement.
8. Support Economic Stability and Workforce Continuity
   • Prevents the unnecessary detention or deportation of law-abiding immigrants contributing to the state’s economy.
9. Align with Evidence-Based Public Policy Outcomes
   • Follows data from studies (2020 and 2017) indicating that jurisdictions adopting similar laws experience:
     • Lower crime rates.
     • Higher economic indicators (income, employment).
     • Reduced use of public assistance programs.