Kentucky Immigration Laws

Bans sanctuary cities and requires local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities in detention and deportation. Louisville has maintained sanctuary-like practices, though this is in tension with the state law.

E-Verify is not currently mandatory for private employers. HB 673 (introduced February 18, 2025) would mandate E-Verify for all employers but has not yet been enacted.

Undocumented immigrants cannot obtain a driver's license or state ID in Kentucky. Asylum seekers with valid work permits are eligible.

Administrative regulation effective July 2015 allows undocumented students who graduated from a Kentucky high school to access in-state tuition at public universities. Under legal challenge — the U.S. DOJ filed a complaint in June 2025 challenging this regulation.