I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1821 
To deny Federal funding to any State or political subdivision of a State 
that has in effect any law, policy, or procedure that prevents or impedes 
a State or local law enforcement official from maintaining custody of 
an alien pursuant to an immigration detainer issued by the Secretary 
of Homeland Security, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 4, 2025 
Mr. CALVERT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To deny Federal funding to any State or political subdivision 
of a State that has in effect any law, policy, or procedure 
that prevents or impedes a State or local law enforce-
ment official from maintaining custody of an alien pursu-
ant to an immigration detainer issued by the Secretary 
of Homeland Security, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the— 
(1) ‘‘Help Ensure Legal Detainers Act’’; or 
(2) ‘‘HELD Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:17 Mar 18, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1821.IH
H1821
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
SEC. 2. DENIAL OF FEDERAL FUNDING TO STATES AND 
UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT FAIL 
TO RESPOND TO IMMIGRATION DETAINERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—With respect to fiscal years begin-
ning after the date of the enactment of this Act, no Fed-
eral funds may be used to assist any project or activity 
carried out by a State, or a political subdivision of a State, 
described in subsection (b). 
(b) STATES
AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS DE-
SCRIBED.—A State, or political subdivision of a State, de-
scribed in this subsection is any State, or political subdivi-
sion of a State, that has in effect any law, policy, or proce-
dure that prevents or impedes State or local law enforce-
ment officials from— 
(1) timely responding to an immigration notice 
issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security that 
requests information about an alien in State or local 
custody, including the alien’s estimated release date, 
in order that the Secretary may arrange to assume 
custody of the alien upon such release; or 
(2) maintaining custody of an alien for a period 
of up to 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays 
and holidays) pursuant to an immigration detainer 
issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security in 
order that the alien can be transferred to the cus-
tody of such Secretary to determine whether the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:17 Mar 18, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1821.IH
H1821
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
alien should be detained, placed in removal pro-
ceedings, released, or removed. 
(c) CONSTRUCTION.—A political subdivision of a 
State that is not ineligible under subsection (a) to receive 
Federal funds, but is part of a State or another unit of 
government that is so ineligible, may submit, notwith-
standing any other provision of law, an application for di-
rect receipt of any funds that the political subdivision oth-
erwise only would receive through subgrant, allocation, or 
allotment made by the ineligible State or government unit. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:17 Mar 18, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1821.IH
H1821
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB