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PC 721

Para crear la Ley para regular el manejo y acceso de información personal en posesión del gobierno para uso de procesos de inmigración, a los fines de prohibir la divulgación de información personal a agencias de inmigración federal para fines de investigación, detención y procesamiento migratorio sin autorización judicial, y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Puerto Rico bill restricts government data sharing with federal immigration agencies without court orders, aiming to protect residents' privacy from deportation-based enforcement.

Referido a Comisión(es)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · PC 721

Legislative bill overview

Bill PC 721 proposes creating a law in Puerto Rico to regulate government access to and sharing of personal information, specifically prohibiting the disclosure of personal data to federal immigration agencies for investigation, detention, and deportation purposes without judicial authorization. The bill aims to establish privacy protections and require court orders before personal information held by government agencies can be shared with immigration enforcement authorities.

Why is this important

This legislation directly affects Puerto Rico residents' privacy rights and their interactions with government services. It creates a legal barrier between local government data systems and federal immigration enforcement, potentially preventing individuals from being identified for deportation based on information collected during routine government services (healthcare, education, licensing, etc.). The measure reflects broader tensions between local governance and federal immigration enforcement priorities.

Potential points of contention

  • Judicial resources: Requiring court orders for every data-sharing request could create significant administrative and judicial bottlenecks, potentially delaying legitimate law enforcement cooperation
  • Federal preemption: Puerto Rico's ability to restrict federal agencies' access to information may conflict with federal immigration enforcement authority and constitutional limits on state/territory restrictions of federal law
  • Practical implementation: Defining what constitutes "authorization" and which government agencies are covered could create loopholes or administrative confusion in practice

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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