HB2006 Summary

• Criminalizes knowingly transporting, moving, concealing, harboring, or sheltering unauthorized aliens in Arkansas, with violations classified as Class D felonies; exempts child protective services workers, first responders, ambulance attendants, and emergency medical technicians acting in official capacity.

• Requires state officials and law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration laws to the full extent permitted by federal law and mandates certified law enforcement officers to determine immigration status during lawful stops when reasonable suspicion exists that a person is unlawfully present.

• Requires law enforcement agencies to verify arrested persons' immigration status before release using federal databases and mandates notification of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or U.S. Customs and Border Protection upon conviction of state or local crimes.

• Authorizes state citizens to bring civil actions against state officials or agencies that adopt policies limiting immigration law enforcement, with penalties of $1,000 to $5,000 per day the policy remains in effect after suit filing; allows courts to award attorney fees and court costs to prevailing parties.

• Provides indemnification for certified law enforcement officers against reasonable costs and attorney fees in lawsuits related to immigration enforcement activities, except when bad faith is determined.