This bill allows states to partner with the Department of Homeland Security to have state-employed attorneys represent the federal government in immigration removal proceedings for criminal aliens, with costs paid by the participating state rather than the federal government. State attorneys performing these functions must be licensed, federally trained, and operate under DHS supervision without independent prosecutorial discretion, and cannot displace federal employees. The legislation significantly expands what qualifies as an "aggravated felony" under immigration law by broadening drug trafficking offenses, adding many state-level felonies regardless of federal classification, expanding firearms trafficking offenses, and adding crimes of violence and theft offenses with sentences of at least one year—changes that would make more immigrants deportable. The bill applies retroactively to offenses committed and removal proceedings begun before, on, or after its enactment date.
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