Kansas Bill Strengthens ICE Ties, Sparks Debate

0:00Kansas Lawmakers just sent a bill to Governor Laura Kelly that pushes local cops to team up more with federal immigration agents and sets up a 25-foot no-go zone around first responders, including ice folks. If you're told to back off and don't, it becomes a misdemeanor with up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. This bundle eases rules so sheriffs don't need county okay to ink deals with ice. On the immigration side, the bill lets local agencies hold suspected non-citizens of to 48 hours on ice requests without extra hassle, shields. Officers from lawsuits would stay back up and drops the need for county commission nods on partnerships. It's a shift from current voluntary setups making coordination smoother across places like Kansas and Missouri. First amendment groups and journalists are sounding alarms, saying the buffer zone hands too much power to officers to decide what's distracting, potentially chilling filming or public oversight. Lawmakers backing it points to chaotic scenes elsewhere like in Minnesota where locals could step into clear space for feds.

1:06Supporters argue 25 feet is plenty for recording and keeps everyone safe in 10 spots, drawing from similar laws in Florida and Indiana. Though Indiana's got hit with court smackdowns for being too vague, some Republicans broke ranks over concerns like holding people on admin warrants instead of judicial ones. Now the bills on the governor's desk after tight boats that could override a veto, leaving folks watching if it'll lock in these changes or spark. More debate on rights versus responder safety. From your city, powered by AI, this is Kansas News Today. I'm Cory with the story.