YOUR REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD HEAR FROM You

The 9 Cooperation Standards

Nine things a legislator can pass and a citizen can say on the phone. Click any standard to see what "exists" vs. "enforceable" actually means.

1. Warrants required

   A judge-signed warrant is required before state or local officers assist with federal civil enforcement. An administrative detainer is not enough.
   Exists

   State law says warrants are required, but there's no penalty for agencies that ignore it and honor detainers anyway.

   Enforceable

   Agencies that violate the warrant requirement lose state funding, face AG investigation, or are subject to lawsuits. The requirement has survived a court challenge.

   Why it matters

   Without this, a federal agent can fax a form to your county jail and have someone held for 48 extra hours with no judicial review. That's not cooperation -- that's commandeering.
2. Schools, hospitals, and courthouses are off-limits

   Civil enforcement operations do not take place at schools, hospitals, courthouses, or places of worship. People have to be able to access basic services without fear.
   Exists

   State law designates these as sensitive locations. But there's no penalty if an operation happens there anyway.

   Enforceable

   Violations trigger civil penalties, private lawsuits, or automatic state investigation. Institutions have a legal duty to deny entry and are shielded from retaliation.

   Why it matters

   If people stop going to the hospital, stop sending kids to school, or stop showing up to court because they're afraid, the entire civic infrastructure breaks down.
3. Cooperation is documented and authorized

   When the federal government requests state cooperation, the request is logged, authorized through the chain of command, and publicly reported.
   Exists

   State law requires documentation of federal requests. But there's no consequence for failing to document, and reports aren't public.

   Enforceable

   Documentation is mandatory with AG oversight. Annual public reporting required by statute. Failure to document triggers investigation.

   Why it matters

   If nobody writes it down, nobody knows it happened. Transparency is the foundation of accountability.
4. The state doesn't pay for it

   State and local resources -- officers, facilities, equipment, staff time -- are not provided free of charge to federal enforcement operations.
   Exists

   State law prohibits using state resources for federal enforcement. But there's no cost tracking, no reimbursement mechanism, and no public reporting.

   Enforceable

   Mandatory cost tracking and public reporting. Reimbursement requirements before resources are provided. Pre-authorization through the state budget process.

   Why it matters

   The federal enforcement apparatus depends on state subsidies to operate at scale. If the federal government has to pay for its own operations, the scope shrinks to what it can actually afford.
5. Elections stay clean

   Voter rolls, election infrastructure, and voter registration data are walled off from federal enforcement operations. No access, no cross-referencing, no intimidation at polling places.
   Exists

   State law restricts access to voter data for enforcement purposes. But the restriction is administrative policy rather than statute.

   Enforceable

   Hard statutory denial of voter data for enforcement purposes. Judicially tested. Violations carry criminal penalties.

   Why it matters

   If people believe that registering to vote puts them on an enforcement list, they stop registering. The ballot box is off-limits. Period.
6. If they break the rules, you can do something about it

   When these standards are violated, there is a real enforcement mechanism. Either citizens can sue, or the state AG enforces with statutory penalties, or both.
   Exists

   There's a complaint process or the AG has discretionary enforcement authority. But no private right of action, penalties are weak, and enforcement depends on political will.

   Enforceable

   Private right of action -- any affected person can file suit. Statutory penalties with specific dollar amounts. AG enforcement that is mandatory, not discretionary.

   Why it matters

   Every other standard on this list is only as strong as the mechanism that enforces it. A warrant requirement with no penalty is a suggestion. This is the teeth behind every other standard.
7. Federal enforcement contracts are regulated

   State law governs whether and how local governments enter into 287(g) agreements, detention contracts, or other arrangements that provide resources to federal enforcement.
   Exists

   State law restricts or requires disclosure of federal enforcement contracts. But no prohibition, no penalties, no approval process.

   Enforceable

   State law prohibits or strictly regulates federal enforcement contracts. Requires state-level authorization. Violations carry penalties.

   Why it matters

   If a county can sign a deal to house federal detainees or deputize its officers as federal agents without state oversight, every other protection on this list has a backdoor.
8. Private detention operates under state rules

   State law governs whether private companies can operate detention facilities or enforcement infrastructure within the state.
   Exists

   State law requires licensing, disclosure, or inspection of private detention facilities. But no prohibition, weak penalties.

   Enforceable

   State law prohibits or strictly regulates private detention. Licensing conditions require compliance with state standards. Violations trigger facility closure or loss of business licenses.

   Why it matters

   A state can score perfectly on Standards 1-7 and still have thousands of private detention beds operating completely outside the cooperation framework. This closes that gap.
9. States coordinate defense against pressure

   The state participates in formal multi-state coordination to defend its cooperation standards -- binding compacts, shared legal defense, mutual fiscal aid.
   Exists

   State participates in AG coalitions or files amicus briefs. No formal compact, no binding commitments, no shared resources.

   Enforceable

   State is party to a formal interstate compact with shared legal defense fund, mutual fiscal aid provisions, and pre-committed response triggers.

   Why it matters

   One state is a target. Fifteen states are a coalition. When the federal government threatens to pull highway funds from one state, that state faces a billion-dollar decision alone. Coordination changes the math.