Kansas Senate Bill SB287

Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/4/25
• Refer: 3/5/25

Caption

Prohibiting law enforcement agencies and officers from participating in immigration enforcement in places of religious worship, elementary and secondary schools and hospitals.

Summary

SB 287 would prohibit Kansas law enforcement agencies and officers from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with immigration enforcement activities in three categories of sensitive locations: places of religious worship, schools, and hospitals. Specifically, it bars assistance with apprehending or arresting people for alleged immigration violations and with serving removal warrants on those premises. The bill also voids any current or future memorandum, agreement, or contract with ICE to the extent it would require conduct prohibited by the bill. The bill further provides an enforcement mechanism through officer certification: a knowing violation of the new restriction could be grounds for suspension, revocation, or denial of a law enforcement officer’s certification under state law. At the same time, the bill states that it does not prevent officers or agencies from enforcing Kansas law otherwise authorized by law, so the restriction is limited to cooperation with federal immigration enforcement in the specified locations. The bill defines key terms broadly, including “hospital,” “place of religious worship,” and “school,” to cover a wide range of facilities and events.

Impact

SB 287 would amend Kansas law governing the conduct and certification of law enforcement officers by limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities in designated sensitive locations. It would invalidate conflicting ICE-related agreements or contracts to the extent they require prohibited assistance, and it would create potential professional discipline consequences for officers who knowingly violate the restriction. The bill would affect state and local law enforcement agencies, ICE collaboration practices, and institutions such as churches, schools, clinics, emergency medical services, mental health centers, and public health departments.

Sentiment

Based on the bill’s framing and lack of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears to be presented as a protective, public-safety-oriented restriction on immigration enforcement in sensitive locations. The caption and text suggest support for shielding worshippers, students, and patients from immigration enforcement activity in places where access to services and community participation may be especially important. Because there are no transcripts or vote records included, there is no documented committee sentiment in the record provided, but the bill’s structure indicates an intent to limit local-federal immigration cooperation rather than expand it.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely to be whether Kansas should restrict local law enforcement cooperation with ICE in sensitive locations, and whether such limits interfere with immigration enforcement or public safety. Supporters would likely emphasize protecting access to worship, education, and healthcare, while opponents may argue the bill could hinder coordination with federal authorities and create confusion for officers. Another possible issue is the breadth of the location definitions, especially the inclusion of school-sponsored events off campus and a wide range of healthcare facilities under the term “hospital.”