D.C. Law 23-284. Sanctuary Values Temporary Amendment Act of 2020.

AN ACT

To amend, on a temporary basis, An Act To create a Department of Corrections in the District of Columbia to limit the District's cooperation with federal immigration agencies, including by complying with detainer requests, absent a judicial warrant or order.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Sanctuary Values Temporary Amendment Act of 2020".

Sec. 2. Section 7 of An Act To create a Department of Corrections in the District of Columbia, effective December 11, 2012 (D.C. Law 19-194; D.C. Official Code § 24-211.07), is amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 7. Prohibition on cooperation with federal immigration agencies.

"(a) Absent a judicial warrant or order, issued by a federal judge appointed pursuant to Article III of the United States Constitution or a federal magistrate judge appointed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 631, that authorizes a federal immigration agency to take into custody the person who is the subject of such warrant or order, the District of Columbia shall not:

"(1) Hold an individual in the District's custody after that individual would have been otherwise released, except as provided in section 2a(c)(6);

"(2) Provide to any federal immigration agency an office, booth, or any facility or equipment for a generalized search of or inquiry about an individual in the District's custody;

"(3) Permit any federal immigration agency to interview an individual in the District's custody without giving the individual an opportunity to have counsel present; or

"(4) Except as provided in Intergovernmental Agreement No. 16-00-0016, entered into between the Department of Corrections and the United States Marshals Service:

"(A) Provide to a federal immigration agency an individual's date and time of release, location, address, or criminal case information;

"(B) Grant any federal immigration agency access to any District detention facility, including a facility under the control of the Department of Corrections, the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, the Department of Behavioral Health, or the Metropolitan Police Department, for the purpose of releasing an individual into federal custody; or

"(C) Release an individual for the purpose of transferring the individual into the custody of any federal immigration agency.

"(b) The District shall not inquire into the immigration status of an individual in its custody.

"(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to establish a right to counsel that does not otherwise exist in law.

"(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to create a private right of action.".

Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 4. Effective date.

(a) This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 60-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(2) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(2)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.

(b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect

Law Information

Cites

  • D.C. Law 23-284 (PDF)
  • 67 DCR 13034

Effective

May 15, 2021

Legislative History (LIMS)

Law 23-284, the “Sanctuary Values Temporary Amendment Act of 2020,” was introduced in the Council and assigned Bill No. 23-897 which was retained by the Council. The bill was adopted on first and second readings on Sept. 22, 2020, and Oct. 6, 2020, respectively. After mayoral review, it was assigned Act No. 23-446 on Oct. 28, 2020, and transmitted to Congress for its review. D.C. Law 23-284 became effective May 15, 2021.