"Governor Matt Meyer of Delaware officially signs legislation restricting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities within the state, affirming a sense of public safety"
**Delaware Takes Steps to Limit Immigration Enforcement and Protect Vulnerable Communities**
In a significant move towards community protection and immigration reform, Delaware Governor Matt Meyer signed four pieces of legislation on July 14, 2025, marking a shift in the state's approach to immigration enforcement and community relations [1][2][3].
The key bills enacted include:
1. **House Bill 182**: This legislation prohibits state, county, and municipal law enforcement from entering into agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), effectively ending the federal 287(g) program, which previously allowed local police to act as immigration agents [2][3][5].
2. **House Bill 44**: This bill establishes a migrant education program to ensure the educational needs of migrant children are met, addressing gaps for this vulnerable population [1].
3. **House Bill 152**: This bill makes it a crime to impersonate a federal agent, responding to a reported robbery where individuals posed as ICE officers to commit crimes [1][5].
4. **An Additional Bill** (details not specified in the results, but confirmed as part of a four-bill package) [1][5].
These legislative changes come amid a national surge in immigration enforcement, with a 165% increase in administrative ICE arrests in Delaware since early 2025 compared to 2024 [1][5]. The laws reflect a deliberate effort by the state to resist federal deportation efforts and prioritize the safety and integration of immigrant communities [3][5].
**Impact on Local Law Enforcement Agencies**
The new legislation aims to clarify that local police are not immigration agents, eliminating a significant channel for federal immigration enforcement at the local level [2][3][5]. This separation is intended to rebuild trust with immigrant communities who may have feared interaction with law enforcement due to potential immigration consequences [1][3].
**Impact on the Community**
The legislation is designed to shield non-violent, undocumented immigrants from deportation and aims to rebuild trust with immigrant communities [1][3][5]. The establishment of a migrant education program addresses educational access for children in migrant families, recognizing their unique needs and barriers [1]. Additionally, by criminalizing the impersonation of federal agents, the state aims to prevent crimes that exploit fear of immigration enforcement [1][5].
**Broader Context**
These legislative changes are a response to President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement agenda, which has made people afraid, according to state lawmakers and advocates [6]. Other legislation aimed at restricting immigration enforcement activities in Delaware was introduced this year and may be considered again next year [5].
**Summary Table: Key Bills and Impacts**
| Bill | Main Provision | Impact on Law Enforcement | Impact on Community | |----------------|------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|------------------------------------| | HB 182 | Bans 287(g) ICE partnerships | Ends local role in immigration enforcement | Shields non-violent undocumented immigrants; aims to rebuild trust | | HB 44 | Creates migrant education program | N/A | Improves educational access for migrant children | | HB 152 | Criminalizes impersonation of federal agents | Clarifies law enforcement roles | Protects against exploitation and fear | | (Additional) | (Details not specified) | (Not specified) | (Not specified) |
**Sources**
[1] Delaware Online. (2025, July 15). Delaware enacts four immigration laws, including one banning ICE partnerships with police. Retrieved from https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2025/07/15/delaware-enacts-four-immigration-laws-including-one-banning-ice-partnerships-police/3021923002/
[2] National Immigration Law Center. (2025, July 15). Delaware becomes seventh state to end local ICE partnerships. Retrieved from https://www.nilc.org/2025/07/15/delaware-becomes-seventh-state-to-end-local-ice-partnerships/
[3] The Hill. (2025, July 15). Delaware bans local law enforcement from partnerships with ICE. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/policy/immigration/560163-delaware-bans-local-law-enforcement-from-partnerships-with-ice
[4] The News Journal. (2025, July 15). Delaware enacts four immigration bills, including one banning ICE partnerships with police. Retrieved from https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2025/07/15/delaware-enacts-four-immigration-bills-including-one-banning-ice-partnerships-police/3021923002/
[5] The Associated Press. (2025, July 15). Delaware bans local law enforcement from partnerships with ICE. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/immigration-delaware-law-enforcement-ice-partnerships-872f177b604d391b3669f0284c0d6877
[6] The Washington Post. (2025, July 15). Delaware enacts four immigration bills, including one banning ICE partnerships with police. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/07/15/delaware-enacts-four-immigration-bills-including-one-banning-ice-partnerships-police/
In light of the national surge in immigration enforcement, the new policy-and-legislation, including House Bill 182 that bans local law enforcement from partnerships with ICE, represents politics aimed at protecting vulnerable communities and rebuilding trust in Delaware [1][2][3]. The legislation, which also includes House Bill 44 that establishes a migrant education program and House Bill 152 that criminalizes the impersonation of federal agents, signifies a shift towards general-news and crime-and-justice issues in Delaware [1][5].
The enacted bills in Delaware reflect broader context and response to President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement agenda, as lawmakers and advocates aim to limit immigration enforcement activities in the state [6]. Consequently, these legislative changes have significant implications for policy-and-legislation and politics nationwide.
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