House to Consider Bills Targeting D.C. Immigration and Voting Policies
GOP-backed measures would block noncitizen voting and require D.C. to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
WASHINGTON — The House is set to take up two bills Tuesday aimed at reshaping immigration and voting rules in the District of Columbia, signaling continued Republican efforts to assert congressional authority over the capital city’s local governance.
The first bill, titled the District of Columbia Federal Immigration Compliance Act of 2025, Sponsored by Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Louisiana, would prohibit D.C. from maintaining any policies that interfere with federal immigration enforcement. The legislation would bar the city from restricting communication with federal authorities regarding the immigration status of individuals or from declining detainer requests from the Department of Homeland Security.
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The measure would, however, carve out an exception for victims and witnesses of crimes, allowing the District to withhold cooperation in such cases to avoid discouraging participation in law enforcement investigations.
The second bill, the No Noncitizen Voting in D.C. Elections Act, sponsored by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, would repeal the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022, a D.C. law that allowed noncitizens to vote in local elections. Under the proposed legislation, only U.S. citizens would be permitted to vote in D.C. elections, including ballot initiatives and referenda.
Together, the bills reflect a broader federal push to rein in local policies seen as out of step with national immigration priorities and voting norms. While both measures apply specifically to the District of Columbia, they mirror debates unfolding in cities across the country over local autonomy and federal oversight—particularly when it comes to immigration enforcement and the expansion of voting rights.
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The measures are expected to draw strong opposition from D.C. officials and advocacy groups, who argue that Congress is overstepping its authority in local matters. Under the Constitution, Congress retains ultimate authority over the District, though it has delegated certain powers to the D.C. government through home rule.
Both bills were advanced by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform earlier this month and are now scheduled for debate by the full chamber.