RIPPLE Act of 2025
The RIPPLE Act of 2025 would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize limited federal reimbursements to states and localities for the wages of officers or employees who perform immigration-enforcement functions under 287(g) agreements with the federal government. Specifically, the Attorney General would be empowered to reimburse costs related to wages, including overtime, or salary for personnel carrying out duties under these agreements. The bill thus creates a cost-sharing mechanism aimed at supporting local and state participation in immigration enforcement, rather than expanding or creating new enforcement authorities. The phrase “limited reimbursements” signals a capped or restricted funding approach, though the bill does not specify funding levels or limits in the text provided.
Key Points
- 1The act adds a new authority for reimbursements: the Attorney General may reimburse state or local governments for wages, including overtime and salary, paid to personnel performing functions under 287(g) agreements.
- 2It amends Section 287(g)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to insert this reimbursement authority at the end of the subsection.
- 3Wages for reimbursement are defined using standard tax and labor definitions: wages as defined by the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and overtime compensation as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
- 4The provision covers costs incurred specifically for performance of functions under an agreement under 287(g)(1) (i.e., immigration-enforcement functions deputized to state/local authorities).
- 5The act uses the term “limited reimbursements,” indicating a constrained funding mechanism, but it does not establish funding amounts, caps, or governing oversight beyond the reimbursement authority itself.