H.R. 6608 — SHIELD Act of 2025

This section sets forth congressional findings that (1) the Constitution vests the federal government with exclusive authority over immigration law enforcement; (2) federal law enforcement officers acting within the scope of their duties must not be subject to arrest, detention, or prosecution by state or local jurisdictions for conducting lawful immigration enforcement; and (3) certain jurisdictions have threatened or taken actions to impede federal immigration enforcement, thereby undermining the rule of law and public safety.

This section prohibits Federal financial assistance—defined in 31 U.S.C. §7501(a)(5) as grants, loans, loan guarantees, property, cooperative agreements, interest subsidies, insurance, food commodities, direct appropriations, or other assistance—to any State (including the District of Columbia and territories) or political subdivision thereof that arrests, detains, prosecutes, or otherwise interferes with a Federal law enforcement officer for actions taken in the lawful performance of duties relating to Federal immigration law enforcement. The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, determines whether such conduct has occurred. Beginning in FY2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, any such jurisdiction is ineligible to receive Federal financial assistance for the fiscal year in which the conduct occurs, with ineligible amounts reallocated to eligible States and political subdivisions.

This section establishes conditions for restoring federal financial assistance withheld under section 3, requiring the Attorney General to certify to the head of the administering federal agency that the state or political subdivision has ceased the offending conduct and provided written assurances that such interference will not recur.

This section defines, for purposes of the Act, (1) "Federal law enforcement officer" as any officer, agent, or employee authorized by the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, or any other federal agency to enforce immigration laws; and (2) "Federal funds" as any grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or other form of financial assistance provided by a federal department or agency.