BLOC Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
The BLOC Act uses federal infrastructure funding to pressure local immigration-detainer cooperation. It adds a title 23 provision barring the Transportation Secretary from obligating or awarding infrastructure-project funds, including highway construction funds, to a political subdivision of a state unless the subdivision has a law, policy, ordinance, or practice requiring officials to notify DHS at least 48 hours before releasing a detained person when DHS has determined the person is unlawfully present, DHS has notified the sheriff or detaining entity of that legal status at least 48 hours before release, and the person has been in custody or detainment for at least 48 hours. State-awarded federal funds also cannot be passed through to noncompliant political subdivisions. The bill defines infrastructure project by reference to 2 C.F.R. 184.3.
Who Benefits and How
DHS immigration enforcement officials benefit because covered localities must provide advance release notice before certain detained people are released. Local jurisdictions that adopt the required notification policy benefit by preserving eligibility for DOT infrastructure and highway funds. Sheriffs and detaining entities benefit from a clear federal funding incentive to standardize DHS release notification practices. Supporters of immigration enforcement benefit from a funding penalty aimed at sanctuary-style noncooperation policies.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Political subdivisions with sanctuary or non-notification policies risk losing federal infrastructure and highway funding. State transportation agencies must prevent federal funds from flowing to noncompliant political subdivisions. Local officials must track DHS status notices and provide release notification within the statutory 48-hour window. Immigrant detainees identified as unlawfully present may face increased transfer risk after local custody.
Key Provisions
- Prohibits DOT infrastructure funding for political subdivisions without required DHS release-notification policies.
- Requires local officials to notify DHS at least 48 hours before release in specified unlawfully-present detainee cases.
- Blocks states from passing federal infrastructure funds through to noncompliant subdivisions.
- Uses title 23 highway and infrastructure funding as the enforcement lever.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Makes political subdivisions ineligible for DOT infrastructure project funding unless, within one year, they require local officials to notify DHS at least 48 hours before releasing a detained person whom DHS has identified as unlawfully present and whose custody has lasted at least 48 hours.
Key Policy Areas
Immigration, Transportation Funding, Federal Grants, State and Local Government
Primary Purpose
Makes political subdivisions ineligible for DOT infrastructure project funding unless, within one year, they require local officials to notify DHS at least 48 hours before releasing a detained person whom DHS has identified as unlawfully present and whose custody has lasted at least 48 hours.
Policy Domains
Resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- DHS immigration enforcement officials
- Compliant local jurisdictions
- Sheriffs and detaining entities
- Immigration enforcement advocates
Identified Costs
- Sanctuary jurisdictions
- State transportation agencies
- Local officials
- Immigrant detainees
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Mr. Crank introduced the following bill; which was referred to …
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Introduced in House
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Compliant local jurisdictions, Local officials, Sanctuary jurisdictions
Positive-direction: Compliant local jurisdictions
Negative-direction: Local officials, Sanctuary jurisdictions, State transportation agencies
DHS immigration enforcement officials, Immigrant detainees
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology