A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 12-63 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to a requirement for peace officers to report undocumented immigrants to United States immigration and customs.
HB 1585 would have added a new section to North Dakota Century Code chapter 12-63 requiring peace officers employed by criminal justice agencies or political subdivisions to report an immigrant they have probable cause to believe is in the United States unlawfully to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, using ICE’s tip line or website, or to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as soon as practicable. The bill also created a penalty for violating the reporting requirement, making a violation an infraction.
In practical terms, the bill would have imposed a state-law duty on local and state peace officers to notify federal immigration authorities when they believe someone is an undocumented immigrant. It would have affected law enforcement agencies and officers across North Dakota, and it would have added a new enforcement obligation tied to immigration status determinations made in the course of policing.
The bill would have created a new statutory mandate in chapter 12-63 of the North Dakota Century Code requiring peace officers to report suspected undocumented immigrants to federal immigration authorities. It would have expanded the responsibilities of criminal justice agencies and political subdivisions, and it would have exposed officers to an infraction for noncompliance. Because the bill failed, no change was made to existing state law.
There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials, so there is no direct evidence of debate or floor sentiment. The bill’s introduction and committee adoption of the title suggest it was formally considered, but its final status as failed indicates it did not advance into law.
The central point of contention inherent in the bill is the requirement that peace officers make immigration-related reports based on probable cause, which could raise concerns about local law enforcement duties, immigration enforcement, and the use of officer discretion. Supporters would likely view it as a tool for cooperation with federal immigration authorities, while opponents would likely object to mandating immigration enforcement by local officers and to the potential burden on policing and community trust. No specific arguments from legislators are available in the provided record.