CAUSA Initiatives Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Central American and USA Initiatives 
Act'' or the ``CAUSA Initiatives Act''.

SEC. 2. NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICAN BORDER SECURITY COOPERATION 
              INITIATIVE.

    (a) Border Security Cooperation Initiative.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
        coordination with the Secretary of State and other appropriate 
        United States officials, shall work with the appropriate 
        officials of the Government of Canada and the Government of 
        Mexico, in conjunction with representatives from the 
        governments of Central American countries, to establish a 
        program to--
                    (A) assess the specific needs of Central American 
                countries to maintain the security of the international 
                borders of such countries;
                    (B) determine the support needed by such countries 
                from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, to meet 
                such needs; and
                    (C) assess the current structure for handling 
                displaced minors and other vulnerable individuals in 
                Central American countries and recommendations to 
                improve such structure.
            (2) Consideration.--Any actions taken pursuant to this 
        subsection by the individuals referred to in paragraph (1) 
        shall be taken in accordance with the goals of advancing human 
        rights and economic opportunities, as well as programming and 
        support for the rule of law, good governance, and civil 
        society.
    (b) Report.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the 
Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate a report on the assessments and determination carried out in 
accordance with subsection (a).

SEC. 3. CARIBBEAN BORDER SECURITY COOPERATION INITIATIVES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in cooperation 
with the Secretary of State, shall work with appropriate officials of 
the governments of the countries of the Caribbean to establish a 
program to assess the specific needs of such countries to address the 
unique challenges of maritime border security.
    (b) Report.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the 
Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate a report on the assessment of needs carried out in accordance 
with subsection (a).

SEC. 4. ENHANCING THE SECURITY OF MEXICO'S SOUTHERN BORDER.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
coordination with the Secretary of State, shall work with appropriate 
officials of the Government of Mexico to establish a program to assess 
the specific needs of Mexico to help secure Mexico's southern border 
from undocumented aliens, drugs, weapons, and other contraband. Such 
plan shall include--
            (1) a comprehensive plan for the deployment and use of 
        technology along the southern border of Mexico, which at a 
        minimum shall contain--
                    (A) an assessment of current technology 
                capabilities along the southern border of Mexico;
                    (B) a description of the research and development 
                capabilities of the Government of Mexico, and 
                collaboration between the Science and Technology 
                Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security to 
                help improve such capabilities; and
                    (C) a description of Mexico's technology needs to 
                address southern border crossing transportation 
                screening, including vehicle, pedestrian and rail 
                screening; and
            (2) a comprehensive plan for the repatriation of migrants 
        to their home countries, which at a minimum shall contain--
                    (A) a description of the ways the Government of 
                Mexico and the Government of the United States can 
                coordinate with international non-governmental 
                organizations to ensure humane repatriation methods are 
                practiced;
                    (B) a description of the training, personnel and 
                equipment needed to implement such a repatriation 
                program; and
                    (C) an assessment of current and future land and 
                rail ports of entry infrastructure that will be needed 
                to maintain legitimate border activity along the 
                southern border of Mexico.
    (b) Report.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the 
Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate a report on the assessment of needs carried out in accordance 
with subsection (a).

SEC. 5. IMPROVING UNITED STATES SHORT TERM DETENTION STANDARDS.

    (a) Proper Access to Adequate Facilities and Personal Needs Upon or 
as Soon as Practicable Following Apprehension and During Short Term 
Detention at Border Patrol Processing Centers.--The Secretary of 
Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection, shall ensure that adequate facilities and sustaining 
needs, such as access to food and water, medical care and sanitary 
facilities, are provided to an individual apprehended and detained by a 
Border Patrol agent between ports of entry upon or as soon as 
practicable following the time of such apprehension or during 
subsequent short term detention.
    (b) Access to Information on Detainee Rights at Border Patrol 
Processing Centers.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting 
        through Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 
        shall ensure that an individual unlawfully present in the 
        United States who is apprehended by a Border Patrol agent is 
        promptly provided with information concerning such individual's 
        rights, including the right to contact a representative of such 
        individual's government for purposes of United States treaty 
        obligations.
            (2) Form.--The information referred to in paragraph (1) may 
        be provided either verbally or in writing by the apprehending 
        Border Patrol agent, and shall be posted in the detention 
        holding cell in which such individual is being held. The 
        information shall be provided in a language understandable to 
        such individual.
    (c) Documentation Concerning Repatriated Individuals.--The 
Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through Commissioner of U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, shall establish and maintain a database 
containing the following information relating to individuals unlawfully 
present in the United States who are apprehended and detained by Border 
Patrol agents:
            (1) Information on the location of apprehension.
            (2) Information on family members separated by the Border 
        Patrol during apprehension or detention.
            (3) Information on the medical conditions of apprehended 
        and detained individuals during short term detention.
            (4) Information on any personal property that was returned 
        to the individual upon repatriation.
    (d) Daytime Repatriation.--Repatriations shall be limited to 
daylight hours and avoid locations that are determined to have high 
indices of crime and violence.
    (e) Short Term Detention Defined.--In this section, the term 
``short term detention'' means detention of an individual in a Border 
Patrol processing center for 72 hours or less, before repatriation of 
such individual to such individual's country of nationality or last 
habitual residence.
    (f) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate a report on the procurement process and standards 
of entities with which the Department of Homeland Security has 
contracts for the transportation and detention of individuals 
unlawfully present in the United States who are apprehended by agents 
or officers of the Department. Such report should also consider the 
operational efficiency of contracting out for the transportation and 
detention of individuals unlawfully present in the United States.

Summary: Central American and USA Initiatives Act or the CAUSA Initiatives Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to work with Canada, Mexico, and the countries of Central America to establish a program to: assess the needs of Central American countries to maintain the security of their international borders. Determine the support needed by such countries from the United States, Canada, and Mexico to meet such needs. And assess the current structure for handling displaced minors and other vulnerable individuals in Central American countries and make recommendations to improve such structure. Directs the Secretary to work with: the Caribbean countries to establish a program to address maritime border security. And Mexico to establish a program to help secure Mexico's southern border from undocumented aliens, drugs, weapons, and other contraband. Directs the Secretary, through the Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection, to: ensure that adequate facilities and sustaining needs are provided to an individual apprehended and detained by the Border Patrol as soon as practicable, ensure that an individual unlawfully present in the United States who is apprehended by a Border Patrol agent is promptly provided with information concerning such individual's rights, and maintain a database on individuals unlawfully present in the United States who are apprehended and detained by Border Patrol agents.