The American Council of Immigration does not approve or oppose candidates for elected offices. We aim to provide an analysis of the impact of elections on the US immigration system.
By: Jojo Tompkins, State and Local Policy Fellow
The state legislature is pushing forward with policies that directly affect the immigrant community. It creates new rules, expands enforcement, and provides important protection. At the start of the 2025 legislative conference, the U.S. Immigration Council shared how states pass policies to protect immigrant communities. Now, when the 2025 state legislative session is over, we are looking at a divided landscape where the region is divided into approaches to immigration. Some states are doubling their Trump-era enforcement priorities, while others are expanding inclusion efforts and protection. In some states, lawmakers are taking on both harmful enforcement measures and policies that support the inclusion of the migrant workforce. Here we look at the key trends that have emerged in different regions, as well as five legislation that you should know.
1. Northeast: Strengthening protection
A major bill has been enacted:
In the Northeast, recent laws reflect efforts to promote immigration protection, with New York enacting A. 02435. The bill will strengthen the military immigrant family heritage program of the Alex R. Zimenez Army, which aims to help immigrant families related to US military services secure legal status and citizenship. The law will improve access to legal assistance while protecting personal information and ensuring state agencies work together to support families.
Regional Trends:
In the northeast, lawmakers have introduced various bills aimed at protecting immigrant communities. In New York and Rhode Island, the bill focuses on preventing enforcement in sensitive areas such as schools, shelters and hospitals without a judicial warrant, but Connecticut and New Jersey aim to advance acts of trust that will make communities safer.
2. Southeast: Enforcement prioritization
A major bill has been enacted:
In contrast to the Northeast, the Southeast promotes enforcement focus measures led by the establishment of Tennessee’s SB6002. The Act creates a new centralized immigration enforcement unit that oversees cooperation between state, local and federal agencies. The bill introduces a new grant-funded 287(g) program, which makes authorities felony violating immigration-related laws and limits permanent driver’s licenses to non-US citizens. These changes significantly expand the role of states in immigration enforcement, raising concerns about the potential violations of constitutional rights and the rise in crime among local officials voting to protect immigrants.
Regional Trends:
Other parts of the southeast are also moving forward with harmful immigration bills. Some of them have already been signed to the law or are awaiting action by the governor. These bills range from limiting tuition fees within the state for undocumented immigrants to holding charities responsible for the actions of undocumented immigrants who provide housing. Several states have also passed bills focusing on cooperation with federal immigration officials. Florida requires law enforcement to require law enforcement to notify federal and state agencies when it arrests a “illegal individual.”
3. Midwest: Split priorities
A major bill has been enacted:
In the Midwest, policy trends are divided into advances in enforcement actions and opportunities for expanding workforce, particularly for international medical graduates (IMGs). The Indiana Legislature has enacted HB 1555. This allows state health boards to issue limited licenses to IMGs that meet certain criteria and have employment offers from health facilities in underserved local health facilities.
Regional Trends:
Other states in the region prioritize passing strict immigration enforcement measures. Northern and South Dakota passed laws banning sanctuary policies, while Missouri has enacted a bill that requires law enforcement agencies to report the citizenship status of criminal offenders. In Indiana, despite recognizing the importance of migrant workers, the state has advanced measures requiring local law enforcement to work with federal immigration authorities.
4. West: Split the priority
A major bill has been enacted:
Like the Midwest, western states have a diverse path to policy, strengthening several progressive comprehensive measures and other enforcement. Washington has enacted SB5104, which protects employees from immigration-related workplace enforcement by amending labor laws, defining coercion and threats, and fines employers for violations.
Regional Trends:
Meanwhile, Wyoming is currently restricting access to non-citizens’ driver’s licenses, Montana has required peace officers to confirm immigrant status during a legal suspension, and Idaho has passed a law restricting public interest based on immigrant status. In comparison, states like Washington and Oregon are expanding protection and opportunities for immigrant communities, with Oregon expanding legislation that will increase access to in-state tuition fees for asylum seekers and pass legislation that will support international medical alumni that will enter the workforce.
5. Southwest: Split priorities
A major bill has been enacted:
Finally, the southwest region reflects a complex landscape. The Colorado Legislature led the protection measures and recently passed SB25-276, which aims to protect and protect the civil rights of Colorado immigrants. The bill awaits the governor’s signature, repeals the state’s tuition access affidavit requirement, closes data sharing loopholes, ensures constitutional protections for immigration in public facilities, and prohibits local law enforcement from detaining people for ice without a judicial warrant.
Regional scenery:
Conversely, the Texas Legislature has introduced measures to limit in-state tuition fees, K-12 education and bail for undocumented individuals. However, Oklahoma passed, and Arizona introduced legislation to expand medical license access to international alumni. New Mexico has passed a bill that allows individuals authorized to work in the United States to be appointed law enforcement officers and protect sensitive personal information disclosure by employees of state agencies.
Why these policy trends are important
State policy trends, particularly those that maintain it across the finish line, reveal what communities aim and prioritize, and show the valuable role national policymakers play in the well-being of migrant residents. Changes in policy advancement will have a direct impact on the lives of immigrant communities, increasing protection or expanding enforcement. As these trends continue to evolve, they will play an important role in shaping the country’s future of immigrant happiness. It is more important than ever to track and understand these legislative developments in different parts of the United States.
Submitted: Dreamers, state tuition fees, state policy
