Federal · Title 8 — Aliens and Nationality

8 U.S.C. § 1373: Communication between government agencies and the Immigration and Naturalization Service

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

Government agencies may share immigration status information with the Immigration and Naturalization Service and must respond to authorized inquiries about individuals' citizenship or immigration status.

Read the full statutory text
Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or local law, a Federal, State, or local government entity or official may not prohibit, or in any way restrict, any government entity or official from sending to, or receiving from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual. Sending such information to, or requesting or receiving such information from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Maintaining such information. Exchanging such information with any other Federal, State, or local government entity. The Immigration and Naturalization Service shall respond to an inquiry by a Federal, State, or local government agency, seeking to verify or ascertain the citizenship or immigration status of any individual within the jurisdiction of the agency for any purpose authorized by law, by providing the requested verification or status information.

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.