Federal Limits

Limit 07 of nine · Transparency

Public cooperation record

Federal detention data went dark up to 56 days — while detention rose 71%.

The problem

You can’t contest what you can’t see. Federal civil enforcement’s congressionally-mandated detention data went dark for up to 56 days in early 2026, and its public dashboard is roughly eighteen months stale — all while detention rose 71%. With federal reporting defied and 11 withheld records requests now in litigation, a state reporting law turns the lights back on — building a public record that survives when the federal one goes dark.

What the law does

Requires public reporting, by statute, on the state’s own interactions with federal civil enforcement.

Where it stands

Where it stands — all 52 jurisdictions7 of 52 have this limit; 3 at full strength
full partial none red underline = state law mandates cooperation

Methodology v3.4 · scored Jun 10 2026

The model language

“Each state and local agency that interacts with federal civil immigration enforcement shall report quarterly to the [Attorney General / Governor’s Office / Department of State] and shall publicly post the report on the agency’s website no later than 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter.”

— Section 7 · Documentation Transparency, The Federal Limits Act
Read the full model bill →

What we propose

Each agency that interacts with federal civil enforcement reports quarterly to a state authority and posts publicly within 30 days, with an annual statewide aggregate — covering transfers, detainers, access requests, and contracts; non-reporting is subject to attorney-general action. Model: California Gov. Code §7284.10; Colorado SB 21-131.

Who’s already done it

6 states + D.C. have qualifying reporting; 3 at full strength — CA, IL, NJ. California’s Values Act requires an annual public report on cooperation from the attorney general.

On the record

Status: mixed — the federal mandate is intact but actively defied; the state reporting lever (CA, IL, NJ) is the operative check.

One of nine.
Not the whole fight.

See where your state stands on all nine limits, or read the model bill section that closes this one.

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