Short-Term Detention Standards Act

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to ensure access to appropriate temporary shelter, food, and water for individuals apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Short-Term Detention Standards Act 2. Access to appropriate temporary shelter, food, and water during short-term detention Paragraph (1) of section 411(m) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 211(m) (1) Access to appropriate temporary shelter, food, and water The Commissioner shall make every effort to ensure the provision to an individual apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection of appropriate temporary shelter with access to bathroom and shower facilities, water, appropriate nutrition, hygiene, personal grooming items, and sanitation needs. . 3. Audit and inspections of detention facilities (a) OIG and GAO The Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security and the Comptroller General shall carry out regular audits and inspections, including unannounced audits and inspections, of processes (including recordkeeping) utilized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to conduct intake and process individuals apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Inspector General and Comptroller General shall, to the extent possible, share information and coordinate to ensure that Congress is provided timely audit and inspection information. (b) Congressional access The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection may not— (1) prevent a Member of Congress or an employee of the United States House of Representatives or the United States Senate designated by such a Member for the purposes of this section from entering, for the purpose of conducting oversight, any such facility; and (2) make any temporary modification at any such facility that in any way alters what is observed by a visiting Member of Congress or such designated employee, compared to what would be observed in the absence of such modification. (c) Photographs The Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security, Comptroller General, a Member of Congress, or an employee of the United States House of Representatives or United States Senate shall be authorized to take photographs or video or audio recordings of conditions in a facility but may not publish photographs or video or audio recordings with personally identifiable information without permission.

Summary: Short-Term Detention Standards Act This bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to make every effort to ensure that apprehended individuals are given access to appropriate temporary shelter, bathrooms and shower facilities, water, appropriate nutrition, hygiene, personal grooming items, and sanitation needs. Currently, CBP is only required to make every effort to provide food and water. The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office must carry out regular and unannounced inspections of CBP processes and share such information with Congress. CBP may not prevent Members of Congress or staff from accessing CBP facilities for oversight purposes, nor may CBP make temporary modifications to alter what a visiting Member of Congress may observe.