SB 3251: ICE; DLE; DLNR; DoTax; ATG; Border Patrol; Law Enforcement; State Employment; Prohibition
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2026-03-19
Current Status:
Failed
(2026-03-30: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Reyes Oda, Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (6) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
What does this bill do?
The bill prevents certain former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents and employees from being hired as law enforcement officers by the state Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, or the Attorney General's office. The ban applies to people who worked for ICE or Border Patrol for more than 90 days total between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028.
The summary is provided by generative AI which can make mistakes. For original language, please view the details in the table below.
Prohibits the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, and Department of the Attorney General from appointing or employing certain former United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol agents and employees as law enforcement officers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Prohibits the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, and Department of the Attorney General from appointing or employing certain former United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol agents and employees as law enforcement officers. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)
Prohibits the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, and Department of the Attorney General from appointing or employing former United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol agents and employees as law enforcement officers. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
Prohibits the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, and Department of the Attorney General from appointing or employing former United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol agents and employees as law enforcement officers.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
3251 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
(1) On April 16, 2025, a United States citizen in Florida was arrested for allegedly being unlawfully present in the country and was held for transfer to immigration authorities. This detention continued even after a judge reviewed the individual's birth certificate, confirmed United States citizenship, and dismissed the charges;
(2) On April 22, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported three United States citizen children, ages two, four, and seven, along with their undocumented mothers. One of the children had metastatic cancer and was deported without access to necessary medication or continuity of medical care. The families were prevented from contacting attorneys and relatives;
(3) In April 2025, during a traffic stop, the Florida highway patrol arrested twenty-year-old Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a United States citizen born in Georgia, alleging a violation of the State's immigration laws. Despite his mother providing his birth certificate in court, he was held for forty-eight hours on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer before being released;
(4) On May 6, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Denisse Parra Vargas and her three children, ages eight, five, and four, to Mexico following a traffic stop for expired vehicle registration tags. She was instructed to report to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility with her children, where all were detained and subsequently deported despite two of the children being United States citizens;
(5) On June 6, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents mistakenly detained a deputy United States marshal in the lobby of a federal building in Tucson, Arizona, that houses the immigration court. The deputy marshal was detained after allegedly fitting the general description of a suspect. His identity was quickly confirmed, and he was released shortly thereafter;
(6) On June 9, 2025, Cary Lopez Alvarado, a United States citizen who was nine months pregnant, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Hawthorne, California, while attempting to block access to a parking gate. After her release, she was hospitalized with severe stomach pains one week before she was due to give birth. Her undocumented partner was arrested during the same incident;
(7) On June 24, 2025, United States citizen Andrea Velez was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in downtown Los Angeles, California, after being dropped off at work. She was slammed to the ground, held for two days in a detention center, and denied water for twenty-four hours before charges were dismissed;
(8) On July 10, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained seventy-one-year-old Barbara Stone for approximately eight hours at the San Diego immigration court while she was documenting arrests as a legal observer. She was accused of pushing an agent, an allegation she denies, and was held without access to an attorney. Her telephone was confiscated during the detention;
(9) On July 10, 2025, United States citizen and Army veteran George Retes was detained for three days following an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid that occurred while he attempted to reach his security guard job at a cannabis farm in Camarillo, California. Despite having identification in his vehicle, agents refused to verify his status. He was held without access to a telephone call or an attorney and missed his daughter's third birthday;
(10) On September 9, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, conducting a raid at a Van Nuys car wash in California, tackled seventy-nine-year-old owner Rafie Ollah Shouhed to the ground. He suffered broken ribs, chest trauma, elbow injuries, and symptoms of traumatic brain injury and was held for nearly twelve hours despite being identified as a United States citizen;
(11) On September 16, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents tased United States citizen Edgar Ruiz in the face outside a Des Plaines, Illinois, convenience store during an operation targeting his undocumented father. He was detained for approximately two hours at a facility before being released for medical treatment;
(12) On September 16, 2025, Border Patrol agents wearing military-style uniforms conducted a pre-dawn raid at approximately 6:00 a.m. with helicopter support, deploying flash-bang grenades and forcibly breaching both the front and back doors of a residence. Six individuals were detained, including two United States citizens, Joe Botello and a roommate, who were later released. The operation included the participation of the Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security;
(13) On September 27, 2025, a photographer covering activity at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, was struck with pepper balls by federal agents, damaging his camera and causing temporary injury;
(14) On October 2, 2025, in Portland, Oregon, a federal officer sprayed chemical agents directly into the face of a vocal but nonviolent protester during a demonstration;
(15) On October 10, 2025, United States citizen and paralegal Dayanne Figueroa reported that an unmarked government vehicle struck her car on the 1600 block of West Hubbard Street in Chicago, Illinois, while she was on her way to get coffee before work;
(16) On October 14, 2025, Border Patrol agents pursued a vehicle on the east side of Chicago, Illinois that culminated in a precision immobilization technique maneuver, causing a crash. United States citizen Warren King was tackled to the ground after exiting a nearby store, and a fifteen-year-old United States citizen was detained for five hours without notification to family members. Tear gas deployed during the incident affected thirteen Chicago police officers;
(17) On October 21, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted a raid on Canal Street in New York City targeting street vendors accused of selling counterfeit goods. Four United States citizens were detained for nearly twenty-four hours without charges and were released only after congressional intervention by United States Representative Dan Goldman;
(18) On October 23, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Houston, Texas, placed sixteen‑year-old United States citizen Arnoldo Bazan in a chokehold after arresting his father outside a restaurant supply store. Agents rammed their vehicle during a chase, and Bazan was hospitalized in a trauma unit. His video recording of the incident was later recovered near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center;
(19) On October 25, 2025, Border Patrol agents in the Old Irving Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, dragged a sixty-seven-year-old United States citizen from his car after he turned onto a blocked street while driving home. Agents knelt on his back while handcuffing him, breaking six ribs and causing internal bleeding despite his compliance. The incident, which occurred during "Operation Midway Blitz", prompted a federal judge to require daily reporting from Border Patrol leadership regarding the tactics used;
(20) On October 29, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Aurora, Illinois, fired a chemical substance at the windshield of a vehicle driven by a United States citizen and mother who yelled that her children were inside. Agents then opened the door and forcibly removed her. She screamed as she was handcuffed;
(21) On October 31, 2025, a Border Patrol vehicle collided with a civilian car after agents made a U-turn at Oakton Street and Asbury Avenue in Evanston, Illinois. Following a confrontation, three United States citizens were arrested. Video evidence showed agents repeatedly punching a handcuffed individual in the head and deploying pepper spray;
(22) On November 3, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained twenty-five-year-old Berenice Garcia-Hernandez for approximately seven hours after she photographed unmarked Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicles outside a restaurant in Gresham, Oregon. Agents smashed her car windows, forcibly removed her, and confiscated her phone and engagement ring. She was released without charges;
(23) On November 17, 2025, Border Patrol agents in Charlotte, North Carolina, smashed car windows with rifle barrels and arrested at gunpoint two women who were United States citizens after they honked to alert neighbors of the agents' presence. The women were detained for several hours at a Federal Bureau of Investigation facility before being released without charges;
(24) On November 21, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stopped seventeen-year-old Christian Jimenez during his high school lunch break in McMinnville, Oregon. Agents broke his car window and detained him for approximately seven hours at a Portland Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility despite his repeated statements that he was a United States citizen. He was subsequently charged with interference or obstruction;
(25) On December 5, 2025, United States Representative Adelita Grijalva reported being sprayed in the face with chemical agents during a confrontation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents;
(26) On December 9, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, tackled twenty-year-old Mubashir Khalif Hussen during his lunch break. Despite repeatedly stating that he was a United States citizen and showing his passport, agents placed him in a headlock and detained him for several hours without water or medical care;
(27) On January 7, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot thirty‑seven-year-old United States citizen Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Video and reports indicate that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers delayed medical aid and prevented civilian medics from assisting at the scene; and
(28) On January 15, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, dragged disabled United States citizen Aliya Rahman from her car while she was en route to a traumatic brain injury center. Agents smashed her window, cut her seatbelt, and forcibly pulled her out. She later lost consciousness while in detention and required hospitalization.
The legislature believes that these and countless other similar incidents collectively demonstrate a pattern of inadequate safeguards, excessive use of force, prolonged or wrongful detention of United States citizens, and insufficient accountability within immigration enforcement activities. The legislature further finds that these practices undermine constitutional protections, harm communities, and erode public confidence in law enforcement.
The legislature also believes that it is likely that future changes in federal leadership, budgets, or priorities may eventually lead to significant workforce reductions at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and that former agents and employees responsible for incidents like these may seek employment in state and local law enforcement roles.
The legislature also finds that, because Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents frequently wear masks to hide their identity, do not properly identify themselves, and are often shielded from accountability, it is impossible to determine which agents and employees are abiding by the law and which are responsible for violence and frequent legal violations.
Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to ensure public safety for the residents of the State and improve public trust by ensuring that former Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and employees who have concealed their identities and may be responsible for violations of constitutional rights, excessive uses of force or violence, or other crimes, will not serve in positions of trust in the State's law enforcement agencies.
SECTION 2. Chapter 139, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§139- Employment by the State; prohibitions. No person shall be appointed or employed as:
(1) An employee of the department of law enforcement conferred with police powers by the director of law enforcement; or
(2) An employee of the department of land and natural resources, department of taxation, or department of the attorney general who is conferred by law with general police powers,
after June 30, 2026, who has worked for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol for more than ninety days cumulatively between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028."
SECTION
3. New statutory material is
underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
ICE; DLE; DLNR; DoTax; ATG; Border Patrol; Law Enforcement; State Employment; Prohibition
Description:
Prohibits the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, and Department of the Attorney General from appointing or employing certain former United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol agents and employees as law enforcement officers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
3251 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
S.D. 2 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
(1) On April 16, 2025, a United States citizen in Florida was arrested for allegedly being unlawfully present in the country and was held for transfer to immigration authorities. This detention continued even after a judge reviewed the individual's birth certificate, confirmed United States citizenship, and dismissed the charges;
(2) On April 22, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported three United States citizen children, ages two, four, and seven, along with their undocumented mothers. One of the children had metastatic cancer and was deported without access to necessary medication or continuity of medical care. The families were prevented from contacting attorneys and relatives;
(3) In April 2025, during a traffic stop, the Florida highway patrol arrested twenty-year-old Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a United States citizen born in Georgia, alleging a violation of the State's immigration laws. Despite his mother providing his birth certificate in court, he was held for forty-eight hours on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer before being released;
(4) On May 6, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Denisse Parra Vargas and her three children, ages eight, five, and four, to Mexico following a traffic stop for expired vehicle registration tags. She was instructed to report to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility with her children, where all were detained and subsequently deported despite two of the children being United States citizens;
(5) On June 6, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents mistakenly detained a United States Marshal Deputy in the lobby of a federal building in Tucson, Arizona, that houses the immigration court. The marshal was detained after allegedly fitting the general description of a suspect. His identity was quickly confirmed, and he was released shortly thereafter;
(6) On June 9, 2025, Cary Lopez Alvarado, a United States citizen who was nine months pregnant, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Hawthorne, California, while attempting to block access to a parking gate. After her release, she was hospitalized with severe stomach pains one week before she was due to give birth. Her undocumented partner was arrested during the same incident;
(7) On June 24, 2025, United States citizen Andrea Velez was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in downtown Los Angeles, California, after being dropped off at work. She was slammed to the ground, held for two days in a detention center, and denied water for twenty-four hours before charges were dismissed;
(8) On July 10, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained seventy-one-year-old Barbara Stone for approximately eight hours at the San Diego immigration court while she was documenting arrests as a legal observer. She was accused of pushing an agent, an allegation she denies, and was held without access to an attorney. Her telephone was confiscated during the detention;
(9) On July 10, 2025, United States citizen and Army veteran George Retes was detained for three days following an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid that occurred while he attempted to reach his security guard job at a cannabis farm in Camarillo, California. Despite having identification in his vehicle, agents refused to verify his status. He was held without access to a telephone call or an attorney and missed his daughter's third birthday;
(10) On September 9, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, conducting a raid at a Van Nuys car wash in California, tackled seventy-nine-year-old owner Rafie Ollah Shouhed to the ground. He suffered broken ribs, chest trauma, elbow injuries, and symptoms of traumatic brain injury, and was held for nearly twelve hours despite being identified as a United States citizen;
(11) On September 16, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents tased United States citizen Edgar Ruiz in the face outside a Des Plaines, Illinois, convenience store during an operation targeting his undocumented father. He was detained for approximately two hours at a facility before being released for medical treatment;
(12) On September 16, 2025, Border Patrol agents wearing military-style uniforms conducted a pre-dawn raid at approximately 6:00 a.m. with helicopter support, deploying flash-bang grenades and forcibly breaching both the front and back doors of a residence. Six individuals were detained, including two United States citizens, Joe Botello and a roommate, who were later released. The operation included the participation of the Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security;
(13) On September 27, 2025, a photographer covering activity at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, was struck with pepper balls by federal agents, damaging his camera and causing temporary injury;
(14) On October 2, 2025, in Portland, Oregon, a federal officer sprayed chemical agents directly into the face of a vocal but nonviolent protester during a demonstration;
(15) On October 10, 2025, United States citizen and paralegal Dayanne Figueroa reported that an unmarked government vehicle struck her car on the 1600 block of West Hubbard Street in Chicago, Illinois, while she was on her way to get coffee before work;
(16) On October 14, 2025, Border Patrol agents pursued a vehicle on the East Side of Chicago, Illinois that culminated in a precision immobilization technique maneuver, causing a crash. United States citizen Warren King was tackled to the ground after exiting a nearby store, and a fifteen-year-old United States citizen was detained for five hours without notification to family members. Tear gas deployed during the incident affected thirteen Chicago police officers;
(17) On October 21, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted a raid on Canal Street in New York City targeting street vendors accused of selling counterfeit goods. Four United States citizens were detained for nearly twenty-four hours without charges and were released only after congressional intervention by United States Representative Dan Goldman;
(18) On October 23, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Houston, Texas, placed sixteen‑year-old United States citizen Arnoldo Bazan in a chokehold after arresting his father outside a restaurant supply store. Agents rammed their vehicle during a chase, and Bazan was hospitalized in a trauma unit. His video recording of the incident was later recovered near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center;
(19) On October 25, 2025, Border Patrol agents in the Old Irving Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, dragged a sixty-seven-year-old United States citizen from his car after he turned onto a blocked street while driving home. Agents knelt on his back while handcuffing him, breaking six ribs and causing internal bleeding despite his compliance. The incident, which occurred during "Operation Midway Blitz", prompted a federal judge to require daily reporting from Border Patrol leadership regarding the tactics used;
(20) On October 29, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Aurora, Illinois, fired a chemical substance at the windshield of a vehicle driven by a United States citizen and mother who yelled that her children were inside. Agents then opened the door and forcibly removed her. She screamed as she was handcuffed;
(21) On October 31, 2025, a Border Patrol vehicle collided with a civilian car after agents made a U-turn at Oakton Street and Asbury Avenue in Evanston, Illinois. Following a confrontation, three United States citizens were arrested. Video evidence showed agents repeatedly punching a handcuffed individual in the head and deploying pepper spray;
(22) On November 3, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained twenty-five-year-old Berenice Garcia-Hernandez for approximately seven hours after she photographed unmarked Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicles outside a restaurant in Gresham, Oregon. Agents smashed her car windows, forcibly removed her, and confiscated her phone and engagement ring. She was released without charges;
(23) On November 17, 2025, Border Patrol agents in Charlotte, North Carolina, smashed car windows with rifle barrels and arrested at gunpoint two women who were United States citizens after they honked to alert neighbors of the agents' presence. The women were detained for several hours at a Federal Bureau of Investigation facility before being released without charges;
(24) On November 21, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stopped seventeen-year-old Christian Jimenez during his high school lunch break in McMinnville, Oregon. Agents broke his car window and detained him for approximately seven hours at a Portland Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility despite his repeated statements that he was a United States citizen. He was subsequently charged with interference or obstruction;
(25) On December 5, 2025, United States Representative Adelita Grijalva reported being sprayed in the face with chemical agents during a confrontation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents;
(26) On December 9, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, tackled twenty-year-old Mubashir Khalif Hussen during his lunch break. Despite repeatedly stating that he was a United States citizen and showing his passport, agents placed him in a headlock and detained him for several hours without water or medical care;
(27) On January 7, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot thirty‑seven-year-old United States citizen Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Video and reports indicate that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers delayed medical aid and prevented civilian medics from assisting at the scene; and
(28) On January 15, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, dragged disabled United States citizen Aliya Rahman from her car while she was en route to a traumatic brain injury center. Agents smashed her window, cut her seatbelt, and forcibly pulled her out. She later lost consciousness while in detention and required hospitalization.
The legislature believes that these and countless other similar incidents collectively demonstrate a pattern of inadequate safeguards, excessive use of force, prolonged or wrongful detention of United States citizens, and insufficient accountability within immigration enforcement activities. The legislature further finds that these practices undermine constitutional protections, harm communities, and erode public confidence in law enforcement.
The legislature also believes that it is likely that future changes in federal leadership, budgets, or priorities may eventually lead to significant workforce reductions at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the former agents and employees responsible for incidents like these may seek employment in state and local law enforcement roles.
The legislature finds that, because Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents frequently wear masks to hide their identity, do not properly identify themselves, and are often shielded from accountability, it is impossible to determine which agents and employees are abiding by the law, and which are responsible for violence and frequent legal violations.
Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to ensure public safety for the residents of the State and improve public trust by ensuring that former Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and employees who have concealed their identities and may be responsible for violations of constitutional rights, excessive uses of force or violence, or other crimes, will not serve in positions of trust in the State's law enforcement agencies.
SECTION 2. Chapter 139, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§139- Employment by the State; prohibitions. No person shall be appointed or employed as:
(1) An employee of the department of law enforcement conferred with police powers by the director of law enforcement; or
(2) An employee of the department of land and natural resources, department of taxation, or department of the attorney general who is conferred by law with general police powers,
after June 30, 2026, who has worked for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol for more than ninety days cumulatively between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
ICE; DLE; DLNR; DoTax; ATG; Border Patrol; Law Enforcement; State Employment; Prohibition
Description:
Prohibits the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, and Department of the Attorney General from appointing or employing certain former United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol agents and employees as law enforcement officers. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
3251 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
S.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
(1) On April 16, 2025, a United States citizen in Florida was arrested for allegedly being unlawfully present in the country and was held for transfer to immigration authorities. This detention continued even after a judge reviewed the individual's birth certificate, confirmed United States citizenship, and dismissed the charges;
(2) On April 22, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported three United States citizen children, ages two, four, and seven, along with their undocumented mothers. One of the children had metastatic cancer and was deported without access to necessary medication or continuity of medical care. The families were prevented from contacting attorneys and relatives;
(3) In April, 2025, during a traffic stop, the Florida highway patrol arrested twenty-year-old Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a United States citizen born in Georgia, alleging a violation of the State's immigration laws. Despite his mother providing his birth certificate in court, he was held for forty-eight hours on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer before being released;
(4) On May 6, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Denisse Parra Vargas and her three children, ages nine, five, and four, to Mexico following a traffic stop for expired vehicle registration tags. She was instructed to report to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility with her children, where all were detained and subsequently deported despite two of the children being United States citizens;
(5) On June 6, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents mistakenly detained a Deputy United States Marshal in the lobby of a federal building in Tucson, Arizona, that houses the immigration court. The marshal was detained after allegedly fitting the general description of a suspect. His identity was quickly confirmed, and he was released shortly thereafter;
(6) On June 9, 2025, Cary Lopez Alvarado, a United States citizen who was nine months pregnant, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Hawthorne, California, while attempting to block access to a parking gate. After her release, she was hospitalized with severe stomach pains one week before she was due to give birth. Her undocumented partner was arrested during the same incident;
(7) On June 24, 2025, United States citizen Andrea Velez was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in downtown Los Angeles, California, after being dropped off at work. She was slammed to the ground, held for two days in a detention center, and denied water for twenty-four hours before charges were dismissed;
(8) On July 10, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained seventy-one-year-old Barbara Stone for approximately eight hours at the San Diego immigration court while she was documenting arrests as a legal observer. She was accused of pushing an agent, an allegation she denies, and was held without access to an attorney. Her telephone was confiscated during the detention;
(9) On July 10, 2025, United States citizen and Army veteran George Retes was detained for three days following an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid that occurred while he attempted to reach his security guard job at a cannabis farm in Camarillo, California. Despite having identification in his vehicle, agents refused to verify his status. He was held without access to a telephone call or an attorney and missed his daughter's third birthday;
(10) On September 9, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, conducting a raid at a Van Nuys car wash in California, tackled seventy-nine-year-old owner Rafie Ollah Shouhed to the ground. He suffered broken ribs, chest trauma, elbow injuries, and symptoms of traumatic brain injury, and was held for nearly twelve hours despite being identified as a United States citizen;
(11) On September 16, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents tased United States citizen Edgar Ruiz in the face outside a Des Plaines, Illinois, convenience store during an operation targeting his undocumented father. He was detained for approximately two hours at a facility before being released for medical treatment;
(12) On September 16, 2025, Border Patrol agents wearing military-style uniforms conducted a pre-dawn raid at approximately 6:00 a.m. with helicopter support, deploying flash-bang grenades and forcibly breaching both the front and back doors of a residence. Six individuals were detained, including two United States citizens, Joe Botello and a roommate, who were later released. The operation included the participation of the Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security;
(13) On September 27, 2025, a photographer covering activity at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, was struck with pepper balls by federal agents, damaging his camera and causing temporary injury;
(14) On October 2, 2025, in Portland, Oregon, a federal officer sprayed chemical agents directly into the face of a vocal but nonviolent protester during a demonstration;
(15) On October 10, 2025, United States citizen and paralegal Dayanne Figueroa reported that an unmarked government vehicle struck her car on the 1600 block of West Hubbard Street in Chicago, Illinois, while she was on her way to get coffee before work;
(16) On October 14, 2025, United States Border Patrol agents pursued a vehicle on the East Side of Chicago, Illinois that culminated in a precision immobilization technique maneuver, causing a crash. United States citizen Warren King was tackled to the ground after exiting a nearby store, and a fifteen-year-old United States citizen was detained for five hours without notification to family members. Tear gas deployed during the incident affected thirteen Chicago police officers;
(17) On October 21, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted a raid on Canal Street in New York City targeting street vendors accused of selling counterfeit goods. Four United States citizens were detained for nearly twenty-four hours without charges and were released only after congressional intervention by United States Representative Dan Goldman;
(18) On October 23, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Houston, Texas, placed sixteen‑year-old United States citizen Arnoldo Bazan in a chokehold after arresting his father outside a restaurant supply store. Agents rammed their vehicle during a chase, and Bazan was hospitalized in a trauma unit. His video recording of the incident was later recovered near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center;
(19) On October 25, 2025, Border Patrol agents in the Old Irving Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, dragged a sixty-seven-year-old United States citizen from his car after he turned onto a blocked street while driving home. Agents knelt on his back while handcuffing him, breaking six ribs and causing internal bleeding despite his compliance. The incident, which occurred during "Operation Midway Blitz," prompted a federal judge to require daily reporting from Border Patrol leadership regarding the tactics used;
(20) On October 29, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Aurora, Illinois, fired a chemical substance at the windshield of a vehicle driven by a United States citizen and mother who yelled that her children were inside. Agents then opened the door and forcibly removed her. She screamed as she was handcuffed;
(21) On October 31, 2025, a Border Patrol vehicle collided with a civilian car after agents made a U-turn at Oakton Street and Asbury Avenue in Evanston, Illinois. Following a confrontation, three United States citizens were arrested. Video evidence showed agents repeatedly punching a handcuffed individual in the head and deploying pepper spray;
(22) On November 3, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained twenty-five-year-old Berenice Garcia-Hernandez for approximately seven hours after she photographed unmarked Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicles outside a restaurant in Gresham, Oregon. Agents smashed her car windows, forcibly removed her, and confiscated her phone and engagement ring. She was released without charges;
(23) On November 17, 2025, Border Patrol agents in Charlotte, North Carolina, smashed car windows with rifle barrels and arrested at gunpoint two women who were United States citizens after they honked to alert neighbors of the agents' presence. The women were detained for several hours at a Federal Bureau of Investigation facility before being released without charges;
(24) On November 21, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stopped seventeen-year-old Christian Jimenez during his high school lunch break in McMinnville, Oregon. Agents broke his car window and detained him for approximately seven hours at a Portland Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility despite his repeated statements that he was a United States citizen. He was subsequently charged with interference or obstruction;
(25) On December 5, 2025, United States Representative Adelita Grijalva reported being sprayed in the face with chemical agents during a confrontation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents;
(26) On December 9, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, tackled twenty-year-old Mubashir Khalif Hussen during his lunch break. Despite repeatedly stating that he was a United States citizen and showing his passport, agents placed him in a headlock and detained him for several hours without water or medical care;
(27) On January 7, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot thirty‑seven-year-old United States citizen Renée Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Video and reports indicate that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers delayed medical aid and prevented civilian medics from assisting at the scene; and
(28) On January 15, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, dragged disabled United States citizen Aliya Rahman from her car while she was en route to a traumatic brain injury center. Agents smashed her window, cut her seatbelt, and forcibly pulled her out. She later lost consciousness while in detention and required hospitalization.
The legislature believes that these and countless other similar incidents collectively demonstrate a pattern of inadequate safeguards, excessive use of force, prolonged or wrongful detention of United States citizens, and insufficient accountability within immigration enforcement activities. The legislature further finds that these practices undermine constitutional protections, harm communities, and erode public confidence in law enforcement.
The legislature also believes that it is likely that future changes in federal leadership, budgets, or priorities may eventually lead to significant workforce reductions at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the former agents and employees responsible for incidents like these may seek employment in state and local law enforcement roles.
The legislature finds that, because Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents frequently wear masks to hide their identity, do not properly identify themselves, and are often shielded from accountability, it is impossible to determine which agents and employees are abiding by the law, and which are responsible for violence and frequent legal violations.
Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to ensure public safety for the residents of the State and improve public trust by ensuring that former Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and employees who have concealed their identities and may be responsible for violations of constitutional rights, excessive uses of force or violence, or other crimes, will not serve in positions of trust in the State's law enforcement agencies.
SECTION 2. Chapter 139, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§139- Employment by the State; prohibitions. No person shall be appointed or employed as:
(1) An employee of the department of law enforcement conferred with police powers by the director of law enforcement; or
(2) An employee of the department of land and natural resources, department of taxation, or department of the attorney general who is conferred by law with general police powers,
after June 30, 2026, who has a history of employment with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol for any period after June 30, 2026."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
ICE; DLE; DLNR; DoTax; ATG; Border Patrol; Law Enforcement; State Employment; Prohibition
Description:
Prohibits the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, and Department of the Attorney General from appointing or employing former United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol agents and employees as law enforcement officers. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
3251 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to public safety.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
(1) On April 16, 2025, a United States citizen in Florida was arrested for allegedly being unlawfully present in the country and was held for transfer to immigration authorities. This detention continued even after a judge reviewed the individual's birth certificate, confirmed United States citizenship, and dismissed the charges;
(2) On April 22, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported three United States citizen children, ages two, four, and seven, along with their undocumented mothers. One of the children had metastatic cancer and was deported without access to necessary medication or continuity of medical care. The families were prevented from contacting attorneys and relatives;
(3) On May 2, 2025, during a traffic stop, the Florida highway patrol arrested twenty-year-old Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a United States citizen born in Georgia, alleging a violation of the State's immigration laws. Despite his mother providing his birth certificate in court, he was held for forty-eight hours on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer before being released;
(4) On May 6, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Denisse Parra Vargas and her three children, ages nine, five, and four, to Mexico following a traffic stop for expired vehicle registration tags. She was instructed to report to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility with her children, where all were detained and subsequently deported despite two of the children being United States citizens;
(5) On June 6, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents mistakenly detained a Deputy United States Marshal in the lobby of a federal building in Tucson, Arizona, that houses the immigration court. The marshal was detained after allegedly fitting the general description of a suspect. His identity was quickly confirmed, and he was released shortly thereafter;
(6) On June 9, 2025, Cary Lopez Alvarado, a United States citizen who was nine months pregnant, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Hawthorne, California, while attempting to block access to a parking gate. After her release, she was hospitalized with severe stomach pains one week before she was due to give birth. Her undocumented partner was arrested during the same incident;
(7) On June 24, 2025, United States citizen Andrea Velez was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in downtown Los Angeles, California, after being dropped off at work. She was slammed to the ground, held for two days in a detention center, and denied water for twenty-four hours before charges were dismissed;
(8) On July 10, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained seventy-one-year-old Barbara Stone for approximately eight hours at the San Diego immigration court while she was documenting arrests as a legal observer. She was accused of pushing an agent, an allegation she denies, and was held without access to an attorney. Her telephone was confiscated during the detention;
(9) On July 10, 2025, United States citizen and Army veteran George Retes was detained for three days following an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid that occurred while he attempted to reach his security guard job at a cannabis farm in Camarillo, California. Despite having identification in his vehicle, agents refused to verify his status. He was held without access to a telephone call or an attorney and missed his daughter's third birthday;
(10) On September 9, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, conducting a raid at a Van Nuys car wash in California, tackled seventy-nine-year-old owner Rafie Ollah Shouhed to the ground. He suffered broken ribs, chest trauma, elbow injuries, and symptoms of traumatic brain injury, and was held for nearly twelve hours despite being identified as a United States citizen;
(11) On September 16, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents tased United States citizen Edgar Ruiz in the face outside a Des Plaines, Illinois, convenience store during an operation targeting his undocumented father. He was detained for approximately two hours at a facility before being released for medical treatment;
(12) On September 16, 2025, Border Patrol agents wearing military-style uniforms conducted a pre-dawn raid at approximately 6:00 a.m. with helicopter support, deploying flash-bang grenades and forcibly breaching both the front and back doors of a residence. Six individuals were detained, including two United States citizens, Joe Botello and a roommate, who were later released. The operation included the participation of the Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security;
(13) On September 27, 2025, a photographer covering activity at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, was struck with pepper balls by federal agents, damaging his camera and causing temporary injury;
(14) On October 2, 2025, in Portland, Oregon, a federal officer sprayed chemical agents directly into the face of a vocal but nonviolent protester during a demonstration;
(15) On October 10, 2025, United States citizen and paralegal Dayanne Figueroa reported that an unmarked government vehicle struck her car on the 1600 block of West Hubbard Street in Chicago, Illinois, while she was on her way to get coffee before work;
(16) On October 15, 2025, United States Border Patrol agents pursued a vehicle on the East Side of Chicago, Illinois that culminated in a precision immobilization technique maneuver, causing a crash. United States citizen Anthony King was tackled to the ground after exiting a nearby store, and a fifteen-year-old United States citizen was detained for five hours without notification to family members. Tear gas deployed during the incident affected thirteen Chicago police officers;
(17) On October 21, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted a raid on Canal Street in New York City targeting street vendors accused of selling counterfeit goods. Four United States citizens were detained for nearly twenty-four hours without charges and were released only after congressional intervention by United States Representative Dan Goldman;
(18) On October 23, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Houston, Texas, placed sixteen‑year-old United States citizen Arnoldo Bazan in a chokehold after arresting his father outside a restaurant supply store. Agents rammed their vehicle during a chase, and Bazan was hospitalized in a trauma unit. His video recording of the incident was later recovered near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center;
(19) On October 25, 2025, Border Patrol agents in the Old Irving Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, dragged a sixty-seven-year-old United States citizen from his car after he turned onto a blocked street while driving home. Agents knelt on his back while handcuffing him, breaking six ribs and causing internal bleeding despite his compliance. The incident, which occurred during "Operation Midway Blitz," prompted a federal judge to require daily reporting from Border Patrol leadership regarding the tactics used;
(20) On October 29, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Aurora, Illinois, fired a chemical substance at the windshield of a vehicle driven by a United States citizen and mother who yelled that her children were inside. Agents then opened the door and forcibly removed her. She screamed as she was handcuffed;
(21) On October 31, 2025, a Border Patrol vehicle collided with a civilian car after agents made a U-turn at Oakton Street and Asbury Avenue in Evanston, Illinois. Following a confrontation, three United States citizens were arrested. Video evidence showed agents repeatedly punching a handcuffed individual in the head and deploying pepper spray;
(22) On November 3, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained twenty-five-year-old Berenice Garcia-Hernandez for approximately seven hours after she photographed unmarked Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicles outside a restaurant in Gresham, Oregon. Agents smashed her car windows, forcibly removed her, and confiscated her phone and engagement ring. She was released without charges;
(23) On November 17, 2025, Border Patrol agents in Charlotte, North Carolina, smashed car windows with rifle barrels and arrested at gunpoint two women who were United States citizens after they honked to alert neighbors of the agents' presence. The women were detained for several hours at a Federal Bureau of Investigation facility before being released without charges;
(24) On November 21, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stopped seventeen-year-old Christian Jimenez during his high school lunch break in McMinnville, Oregon. Agents broke his car window and detained him for approximately seven hours at a Portland Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility despite his repeated statements that he was a United States citizen. He was subsequently charged with interference or obstruction;
(25) On December 5, 2025, United States Representative Adelita Grijalva reported being sprayed in the face with chemical agents during a confrontation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents;
(26) On December 9, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, tackled twenty-year-old Mubashir Khalif Hussen during his lunch break. Despite repeatedly stating that he was a United States citizen and showing his passport, agents placed him in a headlock and detained him for several hours without water or medical care;
(27) On January 7, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot thirty‑seven-year-old United States citizen Renée Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Video and reports indicate that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers delayed medical aid and prevented civilian medics from assisting at the scene; and
(28) On January 15, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, dragged disabled United States citizen Aliya Rahman from her car while she was en route to a traumatic brain injury center. Agents smashed her window, cut her seatbelt, and forcibly pulled her out. She later lost consciousness while in detention and required hospitalization.
The legislature believes that these and countless other similar incidents collectively demonstrate a pattern of inadequate safeguards, excessive use of force, prolonged or wrongful detention of United States citizens, and insufficient accountability within immigration enforcement activities. The legislature further finds that these practices undermine constitutional protections, harm communities, and erode public confidence in law enforcement.
The legislature also believes that it is likely that future changes in federal leadership, budgets, or priorities may eventually lead to significant workforce reductions at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the former agents and employees responsible for incidents like these may seek employment in state and local law enforcement roles.
The legislature finds that, because Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents frequently wear masks to hide their identity, do not properly identify themselves, and are often shielded from accountability, it is impossible to determine which agents and employees are abiding by the law, and which are responsible for violence and frequent legal violations.
Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to ensure public safety for the residents of Hawaii and improve public trust by ensuring that former Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and employees who have concealed their identities and may be responsible for violations of constitutional rights, excessive uses of force or violence, or other crimes, will not serve in positions of trust in Hawaii's state law enforcement agencies.
SECTION 2. Chapter 139, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§139- Employment by the state; prohibitions. No person shall be appointed or employed as:
(1) An employee of the department of law enforcement conferred with police powers by the director of law enforcement; or
(2) An employee of the department of land and natural resources, department of taxation, or department of the attorney general who is conferred by law with general police powers,
after June 30, 2026, who has a history of employment with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol for any period after June 30, 2026."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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Report Title:
ICE; DLE; DLNR; DoTax; ATG; Law Enforcement; State Employment
Description:
Prohibits the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, and Department of the Attorney General from appointing or employing former United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol agents and employees as law enforcement officers.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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Date
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Status
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| Mar 30, 2026 | Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Reyes Oda, Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (6) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4). |
| Mar 30, 2026 | Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1459-26), recommending referral to JHA. |
| Mar 24, 2026 | The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Kong, Reyes Oda; Noes: none; and Excused: none. |
| Mar 20, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Tuesday, 03-24-26 9:30AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Mar 20, 2026 | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on LAB with Representative(s) Cochran, Reyes Oda, Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (7) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). |
| Mar 20, 2026 | Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1271-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to LAB. |
| Mar 18, 2026 | The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Tam, Templo, Yamashita; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Gedeon; Noes: none; and Excused: none. |
| Mar 12, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Wednesday, 03-18-26 8:30AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Mar 12, 2026 | Referred to ECD, LAB, JHA, referral sheet 17 |
| Mar 12, 2026 | Pass First Reading |
| Mar 10, 2026 | Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 391) in amended form (SD 2). |
| Mar 10, 2026 | Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Keohokalole, Kim, McKelvey, Moriwaki, San Buenaventura. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. |
| Mar 6, 2026 | 48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26. |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3095) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). |
| Mar 5, 2026 | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) San Buenaventura ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none. |
| Feb 25, 2026 | The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-05-26 10:01AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. |
| Feb 20, 2026 | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC. |
| Feb 20, 2026 | Reported from PSM/LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2530) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC. |
| Feb 18, 2026 | The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., Hashimoto; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) DeCorte; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye. |
| Feb 18, 2026 | The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Moriwaki ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Fevella; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara. |
| Feb 13, 2026 | The committee(s) on PSM/LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-18-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. |
| Feb 2, 2026 | Referred to PSM/LBT, JDC. |
| Jan 28, 2026 | Passed First Reading. |
| Jan 28, 2026 | Introduced. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Mar 24, 2026 | The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Labor |
Passed |
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| Mar 18, 2026 | The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Economic Development & Technology |
Passed |
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| Mar 10, 2026 | Third Reading | Senate Floor |
Passed |
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| Mar 5, 2026 | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary |
Passed |
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| Feb 18, 2026 | The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs |
Passed |
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| Feb 18, 2026 | The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Labor and Technology |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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| CARES | ** Support | |
| East Hawai'i Indivisible | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
| El Pueblo en Acción (EPA) Maui | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
| Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights (HCIR) | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
| Hawai’i Campaign for Immigrant Justice | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Imua Alliance | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
| indivisible | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
| Indivisible Hawaii | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
| Indivisible Hawaii State Network (IHSN) | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
| Indivisible Hawaii Statewide Network | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
| Indivisible Hilo One | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
| Indivisible Windward | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
| Kona Indivisible | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
| Matriarchy Rising | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
| Maui Roots Reborn | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
| Mercado de la Raza | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
| Office of the Public Defender | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Roots Reborn | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
| Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi | ** Support |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3095
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 3251
S.D. 2
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 3251, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, and Department of the Attorney General from appointing or employing former United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border patrol agents and employees as law enforcement officers.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Roots Reborn, Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Indivisible Hawaii Statewide Network, Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association, and thirty-six individuals.
Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.
Your Committee finds that public confidence is foundational to effective state law enforcement. The State has long prioritized community-centered policing, constitutional safeguards, and respect for civil rights. Your Committee further finds that across the country, there have been numerous incidents involving alleged violations of constitutional rights, excessive use of force, prolonged detention of United States citizens, and a lack of accountability in immigration enforcement operations. These federal enforcement actions have eroded public trust and raised serious civil rights questions. This conduct does not align with the values of the State's law enforcement agencies, nor their standards of constitutional compliance. This measure will establish a clear statewide employment standard to maintain public trust in the State's law enforcement institutions.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Specifying that a person who has worked for the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol for more than ninety days cumulatively between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, shall be barred from appointment or employment as a law enforcement officer at certain state agencies; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3251, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3251, S.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,
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________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair |
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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2530
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 3251
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Labor and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 3251 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, and Department of the Attorney General from appointing or employing former United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol agents and employees as law enforcement officers.
Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Public Defender, Imua Alliance, Roots Reborn, Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, CARES, and fifty-nine individuals.
Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from five individuals.
Your Committees received comments on this measure from one individual.
Your Committees find that a series of troubling incidents involving federal agents across the country raises important questions about accountability. Public safety and constitutional fidelity are inseparable, making any violation of an individual's constitutional rights a potential threat to public confidence in law enforcement. It is in the interest of public safety in the State to require the highest standards of constitutional compliance among the State's law enforcement agencies. This measure does not regulate federal immigration policy or the conduct of federal law enforcement officers, but rather defines the qualifications and standards for employment by a law enforcement agency in the State.
Your Committees have amended this measure by:
(1) Updating legislative findings;
(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
Your Committees note concerns that the State already suffers from a shortage of law enforcement officers and that this measure could undermine efforts to employ additional officers. Moreover, if law enforcement officers currently employed by the State or counties obtain new employment with federal immigration enforcement agencies, this measure could exacerbate the existing shortage of law enforcement officers. Accordingly, your Committees respectfully request that subsequent Committees to which this measure is referred consider this issue.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Labor and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3251, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3251, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Labor and Technology,
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________________________________ BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair |
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________________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Mar 24, 2026 | SB3251_HD1_TESTIMONY_LAB_03-24-26_.PDF |
| Mar 17, 2026 | SB3251_SD2_TESTIMONY_ECD_03-18-26_.PDF |
| Mar 5, 2026 | SB3251_SD1_TESTIMONY_JDC_03-05-26_.PDF |
| Feb 18, 2026 | SB3251_TESTIMONY_LBT-PSM_02-18-26_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
House Standing Committee on Labor
House Standing Committee on Labor
House Standing Committee on Economic Development & Technology
House Standing Committee on Economic Development & Technology
Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
Senate Standing Committee on Labor and Technology
Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs
Senate Standing Committee on Labor and Technology
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):