County leaders convene to update NACo's Immigration Consensus Principles

Key Takeaways

View Revised NACo Immigration Consensus Principles

Recognizing the evolving federal landscape and the changing needs of counties, NACo recently convened a bipartisan group of county leaders to update the NACo Immigration Consensus Principles. Originally developed by the Advisory Council on Immigration and Intergovernmental Affairs in 2018, the principles were designed to reflect the collective voice of counties to guide policy discussions and inform recommendations to NACo’s policy steering committees.  

The convening brought together a diverse group of county officials from across the country, including commissioners, supervisors, sheriffs and social services directors to clarify shared values, incorporating on-the-ground operational realities and emerging federal policy considerations.  

The revisions call for meaningful county involvement in federal policymaking, oppose the use of unrelated federal funding as leverage, emphasize transparency and cost reimbursement in enforcement interactions, support modernized work authorization systems and urge greater stability, coordination and advance notice from federal partners.

The revised Immigration Consensus Principles provide NACo with a modernized, bipartisan framework to guide future immigration policy discussions and advocacy efforts. They also reinforce NACo’s commitment to practical, locally informed solutions that recognize counties as essential partners in the immigration system.