The No Illegal Captivity and Extensions (NICE) Act of 2026, introduced by Representative Maxwell Frost and co-sponsored by Representatives Robert Garcia, Yassamin Ansari, and Wesley Bell, aims to eliminate the use of immigration detainers in the United States. Immigration detainers are requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to local law enforcement agencies to hold individuals in custody beyond their release time so that ICE can take them into federal custody for immigration enforcement purposes. The bill proposes to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to remove provisions that allow for such detainers, thereby preventing local and state law enforcement agencies from holding individuals solely based on their immigration status. This change seeks to ensure that individuals are not detained without due process and to reduce the involvement of local law enforcement in federal immigration enforcement.
Supporters of the NICE Act argue that it will protect individuals from being detained without due process and reduce the burden on local law enforcement agencies. By eliminating immigration detainers, the bill aims to prevent the prolonged detention of individuals based solely on their immigration status, which advocates say can lead to constitutional and administrative issues. Additionally, the bill is seen as a step toward ensuring that local law enforcement focuses on community safety and crime prevention rather than federal immigration enforcement. The National Immigration Forum notes that the bill would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the use of immigration detainers by federal authorities, aligning with efforts to protect individuals' rights and limit local agencies' involvement in immigration enforcement.
Critics of the NICE Act express concerns that eliminating immigration detainers could hinder ICE's ability to apprehend individuals who may pose a threat to public safety. Without the use of detainers, ICE would need to locate and arrest individuals after their release from local custody, which could be more resource-intensive and less effective. There is also apprehension that the bill's categorical approach may overshoot by eliminating detainers entirely, rather than implementing reforms such as requiring judicial warrants or limiting detainers to serious offenses. The Congressional Auditor's analysis highlights that while the bill targets the mechanism causing prolonged custody without ordinary criminal-law process, it does so categorically, which may introduce operational challenges and public safety risks.
The analysis of H.R. 8727 reveals no direct industry overlaps between the sponsor Maxwell Frost's top donors and the bill's subject matter, which focuses on illegal captivity. The lobbying activity in this area is primarily related to natural resources and environmental organizations, with significant contributions from entities such as Bluewater Strategies and Brown & Weinraub Advisors, LLC. Notably, the largest single contribution comes from Parker Meggitt at $100,000, but there is no clear connection to the bill's intent or provisions. Overall, the absence of overlapping donor industries suggests a low risk of conflicts of interest in this legislation.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| TENCENT AMERICA LLC | JOHN MCENTEE | $225,000 |
| AMERICAN COUNSELING ASSOCIATION | AMERICAN COUNSELING ASSOCIATION | $180,000 |
| PARKER MEGGITT | PARKER MEGGITT | $100,000 |
| GUIDESTAR ELDERCARE | LOPER CONSULTING LLC | $40,000 |
| GERSHOW RECYCLING CORPORATION | BROWN & WEINRAUB ADVISORS, LLC | $30,000 |
| PACE UNIVERSITY | BROWN & WEINRAUB ADVISORS, LLC | $30,000 |
| NATURA RESOURCES | BLUEWATER STRATEGIES | $20,000 |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | BLUEWATER STRATEGIES | $20,000 |
| TOSHIBA CORPORATION | BLUEWATER STRATEGIES | $18,000 |
| AUTISM SCIENCE FOUNDATION | IKON PUBLIC AFFAIRS | $18,000 |
| MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION | IKON PUBLIC AFFAIRS | $18,000 |
| NATIONAL RETIREE LEGISLATIVE NETWORK | ALYSON PARKER | $15,000 |
| TOWN OF CLARKSTOWN | BROWN & WEINRAUB ADVISORS, LLC | $10,000 |
| CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES ON BEHALF OF UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI | TWO RIVERS LLC | $6,000 |
| JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN CENTER FOR RECONCILIATION | CARTER LAWS & ASSOCIATES | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Maxwell Frost, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
