New BLOC Act Threatens to Pull Road Funding from Cities Over Immigration Notification Rules

The Blocking Lawless Open Border Cities and States Act of 2025—the BLOC Act for short—is taking aim at local governments that have policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, often called "sanctuary jurisdictions." This bill doesn't directly change immigration law; instead, it uses a massive financial lever: federal infrastructure funding. Specifically, it makes local subdivisions ineligible for federal transportation funds if they fail to implement a new policy within one year.

The Federal Funding Ultimatum

Here’s the core of the deal: If a local government subdivision—like a county or city—wants to keep receiving federal money for infrastructure projects (think roads, bridges, transit), they must pass a rule requiring local officials to notify the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) within 48 hours before releasing an undocumented immigrant from custody. This requirement only applies under very specific conditions: DHS must have already determined the person's status, notified the local authority of that status at least 48 hours prior to the planned release, and the person must have been held for a minimum of 48 hours. If the local government fails to put this notification policy in place, that specific subdivision will be cut off from receiving federal infrastructure funds that would otherwise flow down from the state.

What This Means for Your Commute

This is where policy meets the pavement. If your county or city has a policy that limits how much local police or sheriffs cooperate with federal immigration detainer requests—a common feature of "sanctuary" policies—they now face a tough choice. They can either change their local policy to meet the BLOC Act's notification requirements or risk losing critical funding for things like fixing potholes, expanding highways, or updating public transit systems. For the average person, this isn't about immigration; it's about whether that bridge project gets delayed or canceled because of a disagreement between City Hall and Washington D.C. The bill explicitly defines these as "Infrastructure projects," meaning everything from major highway builds to local road maintenance is on the line (SEC. 2).

The Cost of Compliance vs. The Cost of Defiance

Local governments now have a year to decide. If they choose to comply, they must adjust their detention and release protocols to ensure DHS is notified within the required 48-hour window. This potentially strains local resources and forces local law enforcement to prioritize federal immigration enforcement over other local concerns. If they choose not to comply—perhaps because they believe their current policies foster better community trust—the financial penalty is severe. Imagine a growing city relying on federal funds to ease rush-hour congestion; losing that money means that traffic jam you sit in every morning just became a permanent feature, all because of a disagreement over a 48-hour notification rule. The people who ultimately pay the price for this policy standoff are the residents who rely on safe, efficient infrastructure, regardless of their views on immigration enforcement.