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Title 8 — Aliens and NationalityRelease 119-73not60

§1373 Communication Between Government Agencies and the Immigration and Naturalization Service

Title 8 › Chapter 12— IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY › Subchapter II— IMMIGRATION › Part IX— Miscellaneous › § 1373

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

Even if other laws say otherwise, federal, state, and local governments and officials cannot block any government agency or official from sending to or getting from the Immigration and Naturalization Service information about a person’s citizenship or immigration status, whether lawful or not. They also may keep that information and share it with other government agencies. The Immigration and Naturalization Service must respond when a federal, state, or local agency asks it to verify or find out a person’s citizenship or immigration status for a lawful purpose.

Full Legal Text

Title 8, §1373

Aliens and Nationality — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or local law, a Federal, State, or local government entity or official may not prohibit, or in any way restrict, any government entity or official from sending to, or receiving from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual.
(b)Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or local law, no person or agency may prohibit, or in any way restrict, a Federal, State, or local government entity from doing any of the following with respect to information regarding the immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual:
(1)Sending such information to, or requesting or receiving such information from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
(2)Maintaining such information.
(3)Exchanging such information with any other Federal, State, or local government entity.
(c)The Immigration and Naturalization Service shall respond to an inquiry by a Federal, State, or local government agency, seeking to verify or ascertain the citizenship or immigration status of any individual within the jurisdiction of the agency for any purpose authorized by law, by providing the requested verification or status information.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, and also as part of the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997, and not as part of the Immigration and Nationality Act which comprises this chapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and

Transfer of Functions

For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service,

Transfer of Functions

, and treatment of related references, see note set out under section 1551 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

8 U.S.C. § 1373

Title 8 — Aliens and Nationality

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60