
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 8USC1373]

 
                     TITLE 8--ALIENS AND NATIONALITY
 
                 CHAPTER 12--IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY
 
                       SUBCHAPTER II--IMMIGRATION
 
                         Part IX--Miscellaneous
 
Sec. 1373. Communication between government agencies and the 
        Immigration and Naturalization Service
        

(a) In general

    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.

(b) Additional authority of government entities

    Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or local law, 
no person or agency may prohibit, or in any way restrict, a Federal, 
State, or local government entity from doing any of the following with 
respect to information regarding the immigration status, lawful or 
unlawful, of any individual:
        (1) Sending such information to, or requesting or receiving such 
    information from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
        (2) Maintaining such information.
        (3) Exchanging such information with any other Federal, State, 
    or local government entity.

(c) Obligation to respond to inquiries

    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.

(Pub. L. 104-208, div. C, title VI, Sec. 642, Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 
3009-707.)

                          Codification

    Section was enacted as part of the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, and also as part of the Omnibus 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997, and not as part of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act which comprises this chapter.
