An Act To Amend Title 29 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Reports From The Department Of Justice To The Delaware General Assembly, Governor, And Office Of Legislative Services Regarding Undocumented Residents.
HB96 requires the Delaware Department of Justice’s Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust to provide a quarterly report to the General Assembly, Governor, and Office of Legislative Services. The report must detail any request from a federal agency, federal entity, or entity claiming to be a federal agency for assistance from state law enforcement agencies in a set of immigration-related or undocumented-resident-related matters.
The listed topics include requests involving driving privilege cards, the state migrant education program, stops based solely on suspicion of undocumented status, federal immigration activity in schools or churches, participation by school resource officers or constables in immigration enforcement, dissemination of information about undocumented students, and release of information about undocumented residents from state finance agencies. The bill does not itself create new immigration enforcement rules, but instead adds a reporting requirement intended to increase legislative and executive oversight of such requests.
The bill amends Section 2553 of Title 29 of the Delaware Code, expanding the duties of the Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust within the Department of Justice. Its practical effect is to require regular disclosure of federal requests for state assistance in immigration-related contexts, touching the Department of Transportation, Department of Education, school districts, school resource officers, constables, Department of Finance, and Division of Revenue. It is an oversight and transparency measure rather than a direct change to immigration status, benefits, or enforcement authority.
The available voting history suggests the bill drew meaningful support but also notable opposition. It passed House Third Reading on June 25, 2025 by a 21-14 vote, indicating a divided chamber rather than broad bipartisan consensus. The bill’s sponsors and the subject matter suggest support from members concerned about immigrant protections, transparency, and limits on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, while the opposition likely reflects concern about the scope of reporting, the focus on undocumented residents, or the burden on state agencies.
The main points of contention appear to center on immigration policy and the role of state and local agencies in federal enforcement efforts. Supporters likely view the bill as a transparency and accountability measure that helps monitor federal requests involving schools, churches, and resident information, while opponents may object to the bill’s focus on undocumented residents, its potential to discourage cooperation with federal authorities, or the administrative burden of quarterly reporting. The inclusion of schools, churches, school resource officers, and state data-sharing also suggests sensitivity around civil liberties, public safety, and privacy.