Sarahs Law requires detention of undocumented immigrants charged with or convicted of crimes causing death or serious bodily injury. DHS must notify victims or their families about the detained individuals status and removal efforts.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
Sarahs Law requires detention of undocumented immigrants charged with or convicted of crimes causing death or serious bodily injury. DHS must notify victims or their families about the detained individuals status and removal efforts.
Last updated: 1/5/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Sarah's Law</strong></p><p>This bill requires the Department of Justice or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain a non-U.S. national (<em>alien</em> under federal law) who is unlawfully present in the United States and has been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of a crime that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury of another person.</p><p>DHS must obtain information about the identity of any victims of the crimes for which the detained individual was charged or convicted. DHS shall provide the victim, or a relative or guardian of a deceased victim, with information about the detained individual, including name, date of birth, nationality, immigration status, criminal history, and a description of any related removal efforts.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Mandates detention for serious crime charges
Covers crimes causing death or injury
Requires victim notification
Provides victim information about detainee
Named after crime victim
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
Undocumented immigrants charged with serious crimes would be detained. Victims and families would receive information about perpetrators immigration status. Enforcement of immigration detention would increase for violent crimes.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Immigration
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
578, 119th Congress (2025). "Sarah’s Law". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-578
