---
kind: "section"
citation: "8 U.S.C. § 1252c"
title: "8"
title_heading: "Aliens and Nationality"
number: "1252c"
heading: "Authorizing State and local law enforcement officials to arrest and detain certain illegal aliens"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/8/1252c"
units:
  - "Chapter 12 — Immigration and Nationality"
  - "Subchapter II — Immigration"
  - "Part V — Adjustment and Change of Status"
---

# §1252c. Authorizing State and local law enforcement officials to arrest and detain certain illegal aliens

- (a) **In general—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, to the extent permitted by relevant [State](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-36) and local law, [State](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-36) and local law enforcement officials are authorized to arrest and detain an individual who—
  - (1) is an [alien](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-3) illegally present in the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38); and
  - (2) has previously been convicted of a felony in the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) and deported or left the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) after such [conviction](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-48-A),

  but only after the [State](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-36) or local law enforcement officials obtain appropriate confirmation from the Immigration and [Naturalization](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-23) [Service](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-34) of the status of such individual and only for such period of time as may be required for the [Service](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-34) to take the individual into Federal custody for purposes of deporting or removing the [alien](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-3) from the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38).

- (b) **Cooperation—** The [Attorney General](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-5) shall cooperate with the [States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-36) to assure that information in the control of the [Attorney General](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-5), including information in the [National](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-21) Crime Information Center, that would assist [State](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-36) and local law enforcement officials in carrying out duties under [subsection (a)](#a) is made available to such officials.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 104–132, title IV, § 439, Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1276.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

This section was enacted as part of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, 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.