Cotton Introduces Bill to Increase State Cooperation with Federal Immigration Laws

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
February 5, 2026

Cotton Introduces Bill to Increase State Cooperation with Federal Immigration Laws

Washington, DC - Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) yesterday introduced legislation to ensure states comply with federal immigration enforcement. The Enforce Immigration or Lose Transportation Act would encourage better cooperation and prioritize safety by conditioning transportation funding to states based on compliance with federal immigration laws.

"States that don't comply with federal immigration laws don't just endanger their own citizens, they put the whole country at risk. My bill ensures that these states don't receive another dime of federal transportation funding until they cooperate with federal immigration authorities," said Senator Cotton.

Text of the bill can be found here.

The Enforce Immigration or Lose Transportation Act would:

• Allow the Secretary of Transportation to withhold funding from states that do not comply with federal immigration law.
• Empower the Department of Transportation to audit state practices and issue regulations to ensure compliance with the federal transportation and immigration law.

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