Bill Text: HI HB1994 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Law Enforcement.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-16 - Report adopted. referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Choy, Har, Matsumoto, McDermott, Thielen, Tokioka, Tupola, Ward voting no (8) and Representative(s) DeCoite, Ing, Nakamura, Onishi, Woodson excused (5). [HB1994 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-HB1994-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1994 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawai'i is justifiably proud of its rich immigrant heritage, which has woven our many people into a valued tapestry of races, ancestral groups, religions, cultures, and languages from many parts of the world. Our state and county governments cultivate a culture of inclusion when they ensure that all people in our communities receive equal protection of the laws and respectful treatment without regard to race, national origin, ancestry, or citizenship status. According to the Migration Policy Institute, in the United States today, there are more than forty-three million immigrants, or foreign-born individuals, which is 13.5 per cent of the total United States population. An estimated eleven million of these individuals are undocumented. In Hawai'i, there are 253,000 immigrants, of which an estimated twenty-one thousand are undocumented.
The legislature additionally finds that unlawful presence in the United States is not, by itself, a criminal offense, as recognized by the United States Supreme Court in Arizona v. United States, 567 U.S. 387 (2012). A person's undocumented status can result from crossing a border into the United States without being processed, which is a federal misdemeanor, or from entering the United States with a visa and then overstaying the length of the visa, which is not a crime. It is believed that the great majority of undocumented immigrants living in Hawai'i overstayed their visas.
The legislature moreover finds that Hawaii's inclusionary and peaceful culture is now threatened by inflammatory rhetoric and harsh federal policies that vilify immigrants, divide communities and families, and create fear and suspicion among different racial, ethnic, and ancestral groups. Various efforts have been made to render federal immigration law more humane, however those efforts have failed.
Almost sixty per cent of undocumented immigrants have been in the United States for ten years or more, and another twenty-three per cent have been present for five to nine years, according to the Migration Policy Institute. These are individuals who live and work within our communities and pay taxes and many have married citizens and many more have children who are citizens by birth. Citizenship, under current law, is virtually unattainable for most undocumented immigrants, as many do not meet the requisite criteria of employment, family reunification, or humanitarian protection such as refugee or asylum status. They are therefore unable to "get in line" and instead live in a state of limbo fearing deportation. Eighty per cent of Americans support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, according to a spring 2017 McClatchy-Marist Poll, provided they meet certain criteria such as willingness to learn English, payment of any fines caused by their undocumented status, employment, and payment of taxes. Numerous studies show that immigrants have a crime rate that is lower than that of native-born United States citizens and there is an inverse relationship between crime and immigration. These studies hold true for undocumented immigrants.
The legislature understands that immigration is a federal function and state and local agencies have significant discretion regarding whether and how to respond to requests for assistance with immigration enforcement. The enforcement of immigration law is carried out by the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, known as ICE, and the Customs and Border Protection agency, known as CBP, both of which are components of the federal Department of Homeland Security. Federal law does not require state and local entities to cooperate with ICE and CBP. Rather, federal law, at title 8 United States Code Section 1373, limits state and local governments from enacting laws or policies that restrict communication with federal immigration authorities concerning "information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual." There is no affirmative duty for state and local governments to collect or share this information, and there is no prohibition against preventing the communication of other non-public information, such as when a detained individual will be released or the individual's address. Further, state and local agencies that do participate in federal immigration enforcement do not receive any funding or reimbursement for their efforts. In a sense, the federal government is attempting to impose an unfunded mandate on the State and counties.
The legislature also finds that, early in his presidency, President Trump issued three executive orders relating to immigration and immigration enforcement entitled "Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States", "Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements", and "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States".
Relevant to undocumented immigrants already in the United States, the executive orders encourage state and local law enforcement agencies to voluntarily honor ICE and CBP administrative detainers. These administrative detainers are requests by ICE and CBP for state and local law enforcement to keep an individual in custody for forty-eight hours beyond when the state or local entity would have released the person. More troubling is the fact that these detainers are not reviewed and signed by a judge nor are they warrants.
The legislature furthermore finds that state and local agencies must adhere to the United States and Hawai'i Constitutions, such as the Fourth Amendment prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures. Several federal courts have held that ICE detainers do not provide probable cause for arrest or detention under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and that the state or local law enforcement agency may be liable for monetary damages for unlawful detention. In addition, a number of jurisdictions have paid monetary awards, either as judgments or settlements, to individuals who claimed that they were unlawfully held based on ICE detainer requests. An example of a recent settlement is that agreed to by San Juan County, New Mexico, and approved by a federal judge, to pay $724,000 to one hundred ninety-three individuals and their attorneys.
The legislature additionally finds that, unlike policies under President Obama that prioritized deportation actions on immigrants who had committed serious crimes, the executive orders issued by President Trump seek to deport virtually all undocumented immigrants including individuals who have not been charged or convicted of a crime. The orders also seek to deputize local law enforcement as federal immigration agents, which would allow them to ask everyone they come into contact with about their immigration status. These actions may cause undocumented immigrants and others to be fearful that contact with the police and other law enforcement personnel will lead to deportation and other immigration-based actions, and so they will be reluctant to report crimes or come forth as witnesses, making our communities less safe. As a result more than three hundred cities, counties, and states have limited their law enforcement agencies from cooperating with ICE and CBP.
The legislature similarly finds that the executive orders issued by President Trump attempt to improperly coerce jurisdictions into cooperating with ICE and CBP by threatening to withhold federal grants from jurisdictions that "willfully refuse" to comply. The law is clear that the federal government may not commandeer states and their subdivisions in this manner. In cases such as Printz v. United States, 521 U.S. 898 (1997), and New York v. United States, 505 U.S. 144 (1992), the United States Supreme Court has held that the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits federal "commandeering" of state or local governments to help enforce federal law. Several federal courts have already moved to block implementation of President Trump's executive order to withhold federal grants from jurisdictions that do not provide immigration authorities access to detained individuals or advance notice of their release. These include:
(1) Chicago v. Sessions, 2017 WL 4081821 (N.D. Ill. Sept. 15, 2017) (nationwide preliminary injunction);
(2) Philadelphia v. Sessions, 2017 WL 5489476 (E.D. Penn. Nov. 15, 2017) (preliminary injunction); and
(3) Cty. Of Santa Clara v. Trump, 2017 WL 5569835 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 20, 2017) (nationwide permanent injunction following 4/25/2017 preliminary injunction).
The legislature recognizes the numerous contributions of individuals of various immigration statuses who have sought a better life by immigrating to Hawai'i and elsewhere in the United States. While the legislature does not condone immigration without legal authorization, it finds that the effects of trying to deport all undocumented immigrants greatly outweigh any negative consequences their presence in our country and State might have. The involvement of state and local law enforcement officers in federal deportation programs and activities will alienate members of the State's many communities from Hawai‘i's law enforcement agencies and undermine relationships with law enforcement that are necessary to secure the peace and successfully resolve criminal investigations. In order to ensure a safe, secure, and welcoming community for everyone, including immigrants of every status, to promote respectful relations and collaboration between community members and agencies providing public safety services, the purpose of this Act is to prohibit, except as required by law, state and local police and other local law enforcement agencies from cooperating with the federal government for immigration purposes.
SECTION 2. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"CHAPTER
ho'okipa welcoming policy act
§ -1 Findings.
The legislature finds and declares that the State of Hawai'i
is home to people of diverse ethnic, racial, and national backgrounds including
immigrants who are valuable and important members of the community. It is essential to the public safety of all
residents that there is a relationship of trust and cooperation among members
of the immigrant community and state and local law enforcement agencies. This relationship is undermined when state
and local law enforcement voluntarily act at the request of federal immigration
officials. Voluntary enforcement of
federal immigration law is not a wise and effective use of state and local
resources.
This
Act is intended to conserve state and local resources and protect the public
safety of all residents of the State.
§ -2 Definitions. As used in this chapter:
"CBP" means United States Customs and Border Protection, a component of the United States Department of Homeland Security.
"Civil immigration detainer", "civil immigration warrant" or "immigration hold", means an immigration detainer issued pursuant to title 8 Code of Federal Regulations section 287.7 or any similar request from ICE or CBP for detention of an individual suspected of violating civil immigration law.
"Hawaii law enforcement agency" means any agency of the State or any of its political subdivisions, or any officer of such an agency, that is authorized to enforce criminal laws, operate correctional facilities, or maintain custody of individuals in correctional facilities, and any individual or agency authorized to operate juvenile detention facilities or to maintain custody of individuals in juvenile detention facilities.
"ICE" means United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a component of the United States Department of Homeland Security.
"Judicial warrant" means a warrant based on probable cause and issued by an Article III federal judge or a federal magistrate judge that authorizes federal immigration authorities to take into custody the individual who is the subject of the warrant; provided that "judicial warrant" does not include a civil immigration warrant, administrative warrant, or other document signed only by ICE or CBP officials.
§ -3 Certain activities solely for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws. A Hawaii law enforcement agency shall not:
(1) Stop, question, interrogate, investigate, or arrest an individual based solely upon:
(A) Actual or suspected immigration or citizenship status; or
(B) A civil immigration warrant, administrative warrant, or an immigration detainer in the individual's name, including those identified in the National Crime Information Center database;
(2) Inquire about the immigration status of an individual, including a crime victim, a witness, or an individual who calls or approaches the law enforcement agency seeking assistance, unless necessary to investigate criminal activity by that individual; or
(3) Perform the functions of a federal immigration officer or otherwise engage in the enforcement of federal immigration law, including pursuant to title 8 United States Code section 1357(g).
§ -4 Prohibition against honoring detainer requests; exceptions. (a) A Hawaii law enforcement agency shall not comply with a civil immigration detainer from ICE or CBP to detain or transfer an individual for immigration enforcement or investigation purposes; provided that the law enforcement agency may respond affirmatively if the detainer request is accompanied by a judicial warrant or as set forth in subsection (b).
(b) A Hawaii law enforcement agency may detain an individual for up to forty-eight hours on a civil immigration detainer request in the absence of a judicial warrant in the following circumstances:
(1) The individual has been convicted of a felony;
(2) The individual has been convicted of any misdemeanor specified in section 706-606.5(5) within the prior five years;
(3) The individual has been arrested for a felony and a judge has made a finding of probable cause pursuant to section 805-7;
(4) There is probable cause to believe that the individual has or is engaged in terrorist activity;
(5) There is probable cause to believe that the individual has illegally re-entered the United States after a previous removal or return as defined by title 8 United States Code section 1326(b)(2); or
(6) The individual is currently registered as a covered offender under chapter 846E.
§ -5 Prohibition against honoring requests for information; exceptions. (a) A Hawaii law enforcement agency shall not comply with an ICE or CBP request for non-public information about an individual, including but not limited to non-public information about an individual's release, home address, or work address, except as set forth below.
(b) A Hawaii law enforcement agency may comply with an information request in the following circumstances:
(1) The information request is accompanied by a judicial warrant;
(2) The individual has been convicted of a felony;
(3) The individual has been convicted of any misdemeanor specified in section 706-606.5(5) within the prior five years;
(4) The individual has been arrested for a felony and a judge has made a finding of probable cause pursuant to section 805-7;
(5) There is probable cause to believe that the individual has or is engaged in terrorist activity;
(6) There is probable cause to believe that the individual has illegally re-entered the United States after a previous removal or return as defined by title 8 United States Code section 1326(b)(2); or
(7) The individual is currently registered as a covered offender under chapter 846E.
(c) A Hawaii law enforcement agency shall limit the information collected from individuals concerning immigration or citizenship status to that necessary to perform agency duties.
(d) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a Hawaii law enforcement agency from:
(1) Sending to or receiving from any local, state, or federal agency information regarding an individual's country of citizenship or a statement of the individual's immigration status pursuant to title 8 United States Code section 1373;
(2) Disclosing information about an individual's criminal arrests or convictions, where disclosure of such information about the individual is otherwise permitted by state law or required pursuant to subpoena or court order; or
(3) Disclosing information about an individual's juvenile arrests or delinquency or youthful offender adjudications, where disclosure of such information about the individual is otherwise permitted by state law or required pursuant to subpoena or court order.
§ -6 Prohibition against providing access to individuals in custody for questioning or interviewing principally for immigration enforcement purposes. A Hawaii law enforcement agency shall not provide ICE or CBP with access to an individual in the agency's custody or with the use of agency facilities to question or interview such individual if ICE or CBP's principal purpose is enforcement of federal immigration law, unless the individual requests to meet with ICE or CBP.
§ -7 Due process rights; federal immigration
enforcement requests. (a) A
Hawaii law enforcement agency shall not delay bail or an individual's release
from custody upon posting of bail solely because of an individual's immigration
or citizenship status, a civil immigration warrant, or an ICE or CBP request for
notification about, transfer of, detention of, or interview or interrogation of
that individual for immigration enforcement purposes.
(b) Upon
receipt of an ICE or CBP detainer, transfer, notification, interview or
interrogation request, a Hawaii law enforcement agency shall provide a copy of
that request to the individual named therein and inform the individual whether the
Hawaii law enforcement agency will comply with the request before communicating
its response to the requesting agency.
(c) Individuals in the custody of a Hawaii law enforcement agency shall be subject to the same agency booking, processing, release, and transfer procedures, policies, and practices, regardless of actual or suspected citizenship or immigration status.
§ -8 Prohibition on use of public resources. No agency of the State or any of its
political subdivisions shall use moneys,
facilities, property, equipment, or personnel of the State or any of its
political subdivisions to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation
or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals on
the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or national
origin.
§ -9 Access
to benefits and services. No agency of the State or any of its
political subdivisions shall inquire
about or request proof of immigration status or citizenship when providing
services or benefits, except where the receipt of such services or benefits are
contingent upon the individual's immigration or citizenship status or where
inquiries are otherwise lawfully required by federal, state, or local laws.
§ -10 Data collection. (a) All Hawaii law enforcement agencies shall record, solely to create the reports described in subsection (b), the following information for each immigration detainer, notification, or request for transfer, questioning or interview, or interrogation received from ICE or CBP:
(1) The
subject individual's race, gender, and place of birth;
(2) The
date and time that the subject individual was taken into Hawaii law enforcement
agency custody, the location where the individual was held, and any arrest
charges;
(3) The
date and time of the Hawaii law enforcement agency's receipt of the detainer,
notification, or request;
(4) The
requesting agency;
(5) Immigration
or criminal history indicated on the request form, if any;
(6) Whether
the detainer, notification, or request was accompanied by any documentation
regarding immigration status or proceedings such as a judicial warrant;
(7) Whether
a copy of the detainer, notification, or request was provided to the individual
and, if so, the date and time it was provided;
(8) Whether
the individual consented to the detainer, notification, or request;
(9) Whether
the individual requested to meet with ICE or CBP;
(10) Whether
the individual requested to confer with counsel regarding the detainer,
notification, or request;
(11) The
Hawaii law enforcement agency's response to the detainer, notification, or request,
including any decision not to comply with it;
(12) If
applicable, the date and time that ICE or CBP took custody of, or was otherwise
given access to, the individual; and
(13) The date and time of the individual's release from the Hawaii law enforcement agency's custody.
(b) All Hawaii law enforcement agencies shall provide semi-annual reports to the attorney general regarding the information collected in subsection (a) in an aggregated form that is stripped of all personal identifiers in order that the Hawaii law enforcement agency and the community may monitor the compliance with all applicable law. The attorney general shall make the reports public and post the reports on its website."
SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 4. If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Federal Immigration Enforcement; Law Enforcement Agencies; United States Customs and Border Protection; United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Description:
Prohibits state law enforcement agencies from complying with federal immigration detainers or honoring requests for non-public information unless specifically required to do so by a warrant signed by a judge or provisions of federal, state, or local law. (HB1994 HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
