Department of Justice Announces New Immigration Compliance Requirements for FY 2018 Grants

The Department of Justice today posted solicitations for four public safety grants. Applicants for these FY 2018 grants will be required to certify compliance with new conditions to these grants that will increase information sharing and other cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement. These new grant conditions will ensure that federal immigration authorities have the information they need to enforce immigration laws and keep our communities safe.

The new conditions require recipient jurisdictions to certify that they: (1) comply with 8 USC 1373 and 1644, which promote information sharing and other cooperation between state and local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities; (2) when practicable, provide advance notice before releasing a criminal alien from a state or local detention center; (3) permit Department of Homeland Security personnel to access criminal detention facilities in order to meet to conduct interviews of criminal aliens in state or local custody; and (4) comply with federal criminal laws related to the harboring of illegal aliens.

The grants also allow for preferential consideration of a grant application where the applicant plans to use immigration-cooperation tactics to address public safety in their jurisdiction.  

"So-called 'sanctuary' policies make all of us less safe because they intentionally undermine our laws and protect illegal aliens who have committed crimes,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “As part of accomplishing the Department of Justice's top priority of reducing violent crime, we must encourage these 'sanctuary' jurisdictions to change their policies that undermine public safety, and to partner with federal law enforcement to remove criminals.”

More details on these grants are below:

• Supporting Innovation: Field-Initiated Programs to Improve Officer and Public Safety

This grant solicitation invites applicants to pilot, assess, and implement original approaches that target emerging or chronic crime problems facing the country and placing our officers and public at risk.

• Justice Accountability Initiative (JAI): Pilot Projects Using Data-driven Systems to Reduce Crime and Recidivism

This grant solicitation invites applicants to reduce recidivism and crime by improving the effectiveness of risk assessments and to provide a more data-driven approach system-wide.

• Gang Suppression Planning: Build Capacity for a Multilateral Data-Driven Strategy to Promote Public Safety

This grant solicitation seeks to understand a jurisdiction’s gang landscape and be able to use data to develop effective gang control strategies. It will aim to reduce and sustain reductions in community youth violence, particularly gun and gang violence, and victimization; prevent violence and promote healing from victimization and exposure to violence in the home, school, and community; and increase the safety, well-being, and healthy development of children, youth, and families.

• A Law Enforcement and Prosecutorial Approach To Address Gang Recruitment of Unaccompanied Alien Children program:

This grant solicitation invites jurisdictions that have high levels of youth- perpetrated gun crime and gang violence and that can demonstrate a willingness and readiness to develop fully comprehensive community- and data-driven responses. Funding will support selected jurisdictions to undertake strategic planning and capacity-building work through multidisciplinary and community partnerships.