I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3731 
To respond to the Northern Triangle migrant surge at the southern border 
in a strategic and humane manner, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 11, 2019 
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi (for himself, Miss RICE of New York, Mr. 
KHANNA, Mr. CLEAVER, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. CLARKE of New 
York, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Ms. UNDERWOOD, Ms. SLOTKIN, Mr. CORREA, 
Mr. RICHMOND, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mrs. DEMINGS, Ms. TITUS, Ms. NOR-
TON, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. PAYNE, and Mr. GREEN 
of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland 
Security, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, and Ways and Means, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To respond to the Northern Triangle migrant surge at the 
southern border in a strategic and humane manner, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; DEFINITIONS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Strategic and Humane Southern Border Migrant Re-
sponse Act’’. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this Act: 
(1) The term ‘‘family member’’ means an indi-
vidual who is— 
(A) a parent or legal guardian; 
(B) a spouse; 
(C) a child; 
(D) a step-family member; 
(E) an immediate family member, to in-
clude adult siblings; or 
(F) an extended family member, to include 
aunts, uncles, adult cousins, and grandparents. 
(2) The term ‘‘Flores Settlement Agreement’’ 
means the stipulated settlement agreement filed on 
January 17, 1997, in the United States District 
Court for the Central District of California in Flores 
v. Reno, CV 85–4544–RJK (commonly known as the 
‘‘Flores settlement agreement’’). 
(3) The term ‘‘metering’’ means the U.S. Cus-
toms and Border Protection policy to regulate the 
flow of asylum seekers at ports of entry by denying 
asylum seekers access to ports of entry. 
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(4) The term ‘‘Migrant Protection Protocols’’ 
means the protocols announced by the Secretary of 
Homeland Security on December 20, 2018, or any 
subsequent revisions to those protocols where certain 
individuals seeking asylum in the United States are 
returned to Mexico and to wait outside of the United 
States for the duration of their immigration pro-
ceedings. 
(5) The term ‘‘Northern Triangle countries’’ 
means the countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and 
Honduras. 
(6) The term ‘‘Northern Triangle Migrant Cri-
sis’’ means the increase in families and unaccom-
panied alien children apprehended by U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection at the southern border of the 
United States, predominantly from El Salvador, 
Guatemala, and Honduras but not from Mexico, 
that started in fiscal year 2012. 
TITLE I—STRATEGY AND TASK 
FORCE 
SEC. 101. NORTHERN TRIANGLE MIGRANT SURGE STRA-
TEGIC RESPONSE PLAN. 
(a) STRATEGIC RESPONSE PLAN.—Not later than 90 
days after enactment of this Act, the President shall 
transmit to Congress a strategic response plan to manage 
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the Northern Triangle Migrant Surge that focuses on 
strengthening policies, procedures, practices, and training 
to ensure timely and fair processing of individuals appre-
hended at the southern border of the United States that 
seek asylum under the law, including the provision of im-
mediate protection and humanitarian care. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—The President shall direct 
the leadership of the following departments and agencies 
to change policies, procedures, practices, and training to 
conform with the response plan required under paragraph 
(1) within 90 days of the issuance of the strategic response 
plan: 
(1) Department of Homeland Security, includ-
ing U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigra-
tion and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Citizen-
ship and Immigration Services. 
(2) Department of Health and Human Services, 
including the Office of Refugee and Resettlement. 
(c) CONTENTS.—The strategic response plan re-
quired under this section shall focus primarily on the fol-
lowing: 
(1) How to ensure timely and fair processing of 
individuals apprehended at the southern border of 
the United States that seek asylum under the law, 
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including by eliminating practices such as metering 
and the Migrant Protection Protocols. 
(2) How to provide immediate care and human-
itarian protection to individuals apprehended at the 
southern border of the United States who seek asy-
lum under the law and arrive with family members, 
are pregnant women, unaccompanied children, elder-
ly, and other vulnerable populations. 
(3) How to ensure that at each stage of custody 
of individuals apprehended at the southern border of 
the United States that seek asylum under the law 
the individuals receive appropriate medical screening 
and medical care, the provision of regular meals and 
water, the availability of sanitary, and safe shelter 
with access to bathroom and shower facilities, basic 
toiletries and hygiene items, such as toilet paper, 
soap, toothbrushes, and diapers and feminine hy-
giene products. 
(4) How to adequately scale holding space ca-
pacity and operational personnel to respond to 
surges of such individuals in a timely manner, as 
well as identify any capability gaps that may require 
resources outside of the Department. 
(5) How to ensure compliance with the Flores 
settlement agreement, which includes the transfer of 
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unaccompanied alien children to the custody of the 
Department of Health and Human Services within 
72 hours of determining that a child is an unaccom-
panied alien child. 
(6) What oversight mechanisms will be estab-
lished or augmented to ensure compliance with the 
strategic response plan. 
(d) CONSIDERATION.—In developing the strategic re-
sponse plan required under this section, the President 
shall consider management alerts issued by the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security Inspector General on May 30, 
2019, and July 2, 2019, and any related successor report. 
SEC. 102. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY JOINT 
TASK FORCE TO ADDRESS THE NORTHERN 
TRIANGLE MIGRANT SURGE. 
(a) 
IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding 
section 
708(b)(11) of the Homeland Security Act, not later than 
30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish and oper-
ate a departmental Joint Task Force, pursuant to section 
708 of the Homeland Security Act, to conduct operations 
using personnel and capabilities of the Department to 
manage the Northern Triangle Migrant Surge— 
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(1) for purposes set forth at subparagraphs (i) 
and (ii) of subsection (b)(2)(A) of section 708 of the 
Homeland Security Act; and 
(2) in furtherance of the strategic response plan 
required under section 101 of this Act. 
(b) PERFORMANCE METRICS.—The Secretary shall 
submit performance metrics for the Joint Task Force es-
tablished pursuant to subsection (a) to Congress, con-
sistent with section 708(b)(9) of the Homeland Security 
Act, that set forth performance metrics for the apprehen-
sion, timely and fair processing, and the humane treat-
ment of migrant families and other individuals seeking 
asylum in furtherance of the strategic response plan re-
quired under section 101 of this Act. 
(c) DISBANDING THE JOINT TASK FORCE.—Upon 
establishment of the Joint Task Force pursuant to sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall report to Congress regard-
ing conditions on the southern border of the United States 
that would result in the Secretary deciding to disband the 
Joint Task Force. 
(c) MONTHLY REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—The Direc-
tor of the Joint Task Force, starting one month after es-
tablishment of the Joint Task Force and monthly there-
after until it is disbanded, shall report to Congress on the 
Joint Task Force’s activities for the period and progress 
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with respect to implementing activities in furtherance of 
subsection 101 of this Act. 
(d) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 90 days after 
disbanding the Joint Task Force, the Secretary shall no-
tify Congress of such action. 
(e) INTERAGENCY BORDER EMERGENCY CELL TER-
MINATED.—Concurrent with the establishment of the 
Joint Task Force pursuant to subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall terminate the interagency border emergency 
cell established on or about April 2, 2019. 
TITLE II—MANAGEMENT AND 
OPERATIONS 
Subtitle A—Humanitarian Care for 
Migrant Families 
SEC. 201. PRESERVING UNITY OF MIGRANT FAMILIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—U.S. Customs and Border Protec-
tion shall maintain family unity to the greatest extent 
operationally feasible, absent a legal requirement or an 
articulable safety or security concern that requires separa-
tion and notwithstanding section 462(g)(2) of the Home-
land Security Act, no child apprehended on the southern 
border of the United States may be separated from a fam-
ily member apprehended with the child. 
(b) EXCEPTION.—On a nondelegable basis, an Office 
of Field Operations Field Director or Border Patrol Sector 
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Chief may separate a child from a family member only 
if there is evidence that the child may be a trafficking 
victim in violation of the William Wilberforce Trafficking 
Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 
1232 et seq.) and, in such instances, must retain records 
of the evidence relied upon for reaching such a determina-
tion and, upon separation, the location of the individuals 
involved. 
SEC. 202. ESSENTIAL HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS. 
(a) UPDATE
STATUTORY
REQUIREMENTS
FOR 
SHORT-TERM DETENTION.—Paragraph (1) of section 
411(m) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
211(m)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) ACCESS
TO
APPROPRIATE
TEMPORARY 
SHELTER, FOOD, AND WATER.—The Commissioner 
shall make every effort to ensure the provision to an 
individual apprehended by the Commissioner of ap-
propriate temporary shelter with access to bathroom 
and shower facilities, water, appropriate nutrition, 
hygiene, personal grooming items, and sanitation.’’. 
(b) COMPLIANCE.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall establish final plans, standards, and proto-
cols to protect the health and safety of individuals in the 
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custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which 
shall include— 
(1) requirements on the availability and provi-
sion of water, appropriate nutrition, hygiene, per-
sonal grooming items, and sanitation needs; 
(2) appropriate temporary shelter facilities with 
access to bathroom and shower facilities and are 
maintained in conditions that adhere to best prac-
tices for the care of children that comply with the 
relevant recommendations of the American Academy 
of Pediatrics, including the recommendations in-
cluded in the Policy Statement of the American 
Academy of Pediatrics entitled, ‘‘Detention of Immi-
grant Children’’ issued in May 2017; 
(3) required training for all Department of 
Homeland Security personnel and contract personnel 
who interact with migrants seeking refugee or asy-
lum status while in U.S. Customs and Border Pro-
tection custody; and 
(4) transferring responsibilities, where possible, 
from Department of Homeland Security personnel, 
particularly law enforcement personnel, for the pro-
vision of care of families and unaccompanied alien 
children apprehended at the southern border of the 
United States to State-licensed, vetted, and qualified 
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contractors with trained medical and social work 
staff while in U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
custody. 
SEC. 203. UNIFORM PROCESSES FOR MEDICAL SCREENING 
OF 
INDIVIDUALS 
INTERDICTED 
BETWEEN 
PORTS OF ENTRY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle C of title IV of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 231) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 437. MEDICAL SCREENING OF INDIVIDUALS INTER-
DICTED BETWEEN PORTS OF ENTRY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—To improve border security and 
the processing of individuals and families interdicted by 
the U.S. Border Patrol between ports of entry, the Com-
missioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in co-
ordination with the Chief Medical Officer of the Depart-
ment, shall, not later than thirty days after enactment of 
this section, establish uniform processes and training to 
ensure consistent and efficient medical screening of all in-
dividuals so interdicted before transfer out of U.S. Cus-
toms and Border Protection custody but not longer than 
12 hours of such interdiction. 
‘‘(b) SCREENING PROCESS COMPONENTS.—At a min-
imum, the uniform processes and training established 
under subsection (a) shall include the following: 
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‘‘(1) Requirements for initial screening that in-
cludes documentation of the following: 
‘‘(A) Visual assessment of overall physical 
and behavior state, including any possible dis-
ability. 
‘‘(B) A brief medical history including de-
mographic information, current medications, 
and any chronic or past illnesses. 
‘‘(C) Any current medical complaints. 
‘‘(2) Criteria for determining when to make a 
referral to higher medical care and a process to exe-
cute such referral. 
‘‘(3) Recordkeeping requirements on how infor-
mation is to be recorded for each initial screening, 
including information on the use of interpretation 
services. 
‘‘(c) TRAINING.—Starting sixty days after the 
issuance of the uniform processes and training pursuant 
to subsection (a), any individual carrying out medical 
screening at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facil-
ity of individuals interdicted by the U.S. Border Patrol 
between ports shall complete training on the uniform proc-
esses.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is 
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amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
436 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 437. Medical screening of persons interdicted between ports of entry.’’. 
SEC. 204. TERMINATION OF INHUMANE PROTOCOLS AND 
POLICIES. 
Not later than 30 days after enactment of this Act, 
the Migrant Protection Protocols and U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection metering policy shall be terminated. 
SEC. 205. ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Insert new section 890B in the 
Homeland Security Act: 
‘‘SEC. 890B. ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish programs to provide alternatives to detention 
under the immigration laws. 
‘‘(2) 
AVAILABILITY.—The 
programs 
under 
paragraph (1) shall be available to an alien regard-
less of whether— 
‘‘(A) a decision on a charge of removability 
with respect to the alien is pending; or 
‘‘(B) the alien is subject to an order of re-
moval. 
‘‘(3) CONTINUUM OF SUPERVISION.—The pro-
grams under paragraph (1) shall provide for a con-
tinuum of supervision mechanisms and options, in-
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cluding community-based supervision and commu-
nity support. 
‘‘(4) CONTRACTS
WITH
NONGOVERNMENTAL 
ORGANIZATIONS.—The Secretary may contract with 
one or more nongovernmental organizations to pro-
vide services under this subsection and subsection 
(b). 
‘‘(b) RESTORATION OF THE FAMILY CASE MANAGE-
MENT PROGRAM.—Not later than 7 days after the date 
of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall fully 
restore the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
Family Case Management Program as the program ex-
isted on January 21, 2016, which shall— 
‘‘(1) provide community supervision and com-
munity support services, including case management 
services, appearance services, and screening of aliens 
who have been detained; and 
‘‘(2) be carried out through a contract with a 
nongovernmental 
organization 
that 
has 
dem-
onstrated expertise in providing such supervision 
and support services. 
‘‘(c) DETERMINATION OF VULNERABLE POPULATION 
OR CAREGIVER STATUS REQUIRED.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (3) and subject to paragraph (2), not later 
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than 72 hours after taking an individual into cus-
tody under the immigration laws, the Secretary, the 
Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protec-
tion, an immigration officer, or an immigration 
judge shall make an individualized determination 
with respect to— 
‘‘(A) whether the individual may partici-
pate in an alternatives to detention program, 
including the Family Case Management Pro-
gram described in subsection (b); and 
‘‘(B) the appropriate level of supervision. 
‘‘(2) PRESUMPTION FOR PLACEMENT IN ALTER-
NATIVES TO DETENTION PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There shall be a pre-
sumption for placement in an alternatives to de-
tention program that is a community-based su-
pervision program for any alien who is— 
‘‘(i) taken into the physical custody of 
the Department of Homeland Security; 
and 
‘‘(ii) a member of a vulnerable popu-
lation, a parent of a child under 18 years 
of age, a dependent caregiver, or a family 
caregiver. 
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‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—The presumption de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) shall not apply if 
the Secretary, the Commissioner of U.S. Cus-
toms and Border Protection, an immigration of-
ficer, or an immigration judge specifically deter-
mines that the alien is a threat to himself or 
herself or the public. 
‘‘(3) EXCEPTIONS.—Alternatives to detention 
programs shall not be available to any individual— 
‘‘(A) detained under section 236A of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1226a); or 
‘‘(B) for whom release on bond or recog-
nizance is determined to be a sufficient measure 
to ensure appearances at immigration pro-
ceedings and public safety. 
‘‘(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than one year 
after the Restoration of the Family Case Management 
Program pursuant to subsection (b), and annually there-
after, the Coordinator shall submit to Congress a report 
that includes— 
‘‘(1) guidance and requirements for referral and 
placement decisions in alternatives to detention pro-
grams; 
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‘‘(2) information on enrollment in alternatives 
to detention programs, disaggregated by field office; 
‘‘(3) information on the population enrolled in 
alternatives to detention programs, disaggregated by 
type of alternative to detention program and point 
of apprehension and, to the extent possible, reflect-
ing participation by migrant families and unaccom-
panied alien children. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) DEPENDENT CAREGIVER.—The term ‘de-
pendent caregiver’ means an individual who lives 
with, and provides more than 1⁄2 of the financial 
support required by, a family member who is— 
‘‘(A) under 18 years of age; or 
‘‘(B) unable to engage in substantial em-
ployment due to a physical or mental health 
condition or disability. 
‘‘(2) EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENTS.—The term 
‘executive departments’ has the meaning given the 
term in section 101 of title 5, United States Code. 
‘‘(3) FAMILY
CAREGIVER.—The term ‘family 
caregiver’ means an individual who lives with, and 
provides more than 1⁄2 of the personal care required 
by, a family member who is— 
‘‘(A) under 18 years of age; or 
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‘‘(B) unable to engage in substantial em-
ployment due to a physical or mental health 
condition or disability. 
‘‘(4) FAMILY
MEMBER.—The term ‘family 
member’, with respect to an individual receiving per-
sonal care services or financial support, means an 
individual who is— 
‘‘(A) a parent or legal guardian; 
‘‘(B) a spouse; 
‘‘(C) a child; 
‘‘(D) a step-family member; 
‘‘(E) an immediate family member, to in-
clude adult siblings; or 
‘‘(F) an extended family member, to in-
clude aunts, uncles, adult cousins, and grand-
parents. 
‘‘(5) IMMIGRATION LAWS.—The term ‘immigra-
tion laws’ has the meaning given the term in section 
101(a)(17) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17)). 
‘‘(6) LEGAL
GUARDIAN.—The 
term 
‘legal 
guardian’ means a legal guardian under State law or 
the law of a foreign country. 
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‘‘(7) MEMBER
OF
A
VULNERABLE
POPU-
LATION.—The term ‘member of a vulnerable popu-
lation’ means an individual who— 
‘‘(A) is an asylum seeker or is otherwise 
seeking lawful status; 
‘‘(B) is a victim of torture or trafficking; 
‘‘(C) has special religious, cultural, or spir-
itual considerations; 
‘‘(D) is pregnant or nursing; 
‘‘(E) is under 21 years of age; 
‘‘(F) is older than 60 years of age; 
‘‘(G) identifies as gay, lesbian, bisexual, 
transgender, or intersex; 
‘‘(H) is a victim or witness of a crime; 
‘‘(I) has a mental disorder or physical dis-
ability; or 
‘‘(J) is experiencing severe trauma or is a 
survivor of torture or gender-based violence, as 
determined by an immigration judge or the Sec-
retary based on information obtained— 
‘‘(i) by the attorney or legal services 
provider of the individual during intake; or 
‘‘(ii) through credible reporting by the 
individual. 
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‘‘(8) PARENT.—The term ‘parent’ means a bio-
logical or adoptive parent of a child, whose parental 
rights have not been relinquished or terminated 
under State law or the law of a foreign country. 
‘‘(9) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary of Homeland Security. 
‘‘(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed to supersede or modify— 
‘‘(1) the William Wilberforce Trafficking Vic-
tims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 
U.S.C. 1232 et seq.); 
‘‘(2) the Stipulated Settlement Agreement filed 
in the United States District Court for the Central 
District of California on January 17, 1997 (CV 85– 
4544–RJK) (commonly known as the ‘Flores Settle-
ment Agreement’); 
‘‘(3) the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 101 et seq.); 
‘‘(4) any applicable Federal child welfare law, 
including the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 
1997 (Public Law 105–89); and 
‘‘(5) any applicable State child welfare laws.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is 
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amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
890B the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 890B. Alternatives to detention program.’’ 
Subtitle B—Staffing, Support, and 
Resources 
SEC. 211. NORTHERN TRIANGLE MIGRANT SURGE SUP-
PORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Starting not later than 60 days 
after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall enter into memoranda of understanding 
with appropriate Federal agencies and applicable emer-
gency government relief services, and contracts with State- 
licensed, vetted, and qualified contractors with health care, 
public health, social work, and transportation profes-
sionals, for purposes of providing care for families and un-
accompanied alien children apprehended at the southern 
border of the United States during the Northern Triangle 
Migrant Surge. 
(b) STRATEGIC DEPLOYMENT.—The Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall ensure that the memoranda of 
understanding and contracts entered into pursuant to sub-
section (a) ensure core capacity within the Department of 
Homeland Security to provide adequate care to migrant 
families and children while in short-term detention that 
includes physicians specializing in pediatrics, family medi-
cine, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, geri-
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atric medicine, internal medicine, and infectious diseases; 
nurse practitioners; other nurses; physician assistants; li-
censed social workers; mental health professionals; public 
health professionals; and dieticians. 
(c) MONTHLY REPORTS.—Beginning 90 days after 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall submit a monthly report to the appropriate congres-
sional committees on the memoranda of understanding 
and contracts entered into pursuant to subsection (a) as 
of that date together with— 
(1) information on the deployment of physicians 
specializing in pediatrics, family medicine, emer-
gency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, geriatric 
medicine, internal medicine, and infectious diseases; 
nurse practitioners; other nurses; physician assist-
ants; licensed social workers; mental health profes-
sionals; public health professionals; and dieticians 
within each border sector; and 
(2) for each sector, the degree to which respon-
sibilities have been transferred from Department of 
Homeland Security personnel, particularly law en-
forcement personnel, for the provision of care of mi-
grant families and unaccompanied alien children ap-
prehended at the southern border of the United 
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States to personnel under a memorandum of under-
standing or contract. 
SEC. 212. ADDITIONAL U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PRO-
TECTION PERSONNEL. 
(a) OFFICERS.—The Commissioner of U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection shall every fiscal year hire, train, 
and assign not fewer than 600 new officers above the level 
as of September 30 of the immediately preceding fiscal 
year until the total number of officers equals the require-
ments identified each year in the Workload Staffing Model 
developed by the Commissioner. 
(b) INVESTIGATORS.—The Commissioner of U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection shall every fiscal year 
hire, train, and assign 30 new full-time investigators with-
in the Office of Professional Responsibility of U.S. Cus-
toms and Border Protection until the total number of in-
vestigators enables the Office to fulfill its mission propor-
tionate to the number of new personnel hired in accord-
ance with subsection (a). 
(c) TRAFFIC FORECASTS.—In calculating the number 
of Office of Field Operations officers needed at each port 
of entry through the Workload Staffing Model, the Office 
of Field Operations shall— 
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(1) rely on data collected regarding the inspec-
tions and other activities conducted at each such 
port of entry; and 
(2) consider volume from the Northern Triangle 
Migrant Surge and seasonal surges, other projected 
changes in commercial and passenger volumes, the 
most current commercial forecasts, and other rel-
evant information. 
(d) AMENDMENT.—Subparagraph (A) of section 
411(g)(5) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 211(g)(5)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘model’’ and inserting ‘‘mod-
els’’; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘agricultural specialists,’’ be-
fore ‘‘and support personnel’’; and 
(3) by inserting before the period at the end the 
following: 
‘‘, 
and 
information 
concerning 
the 
progress made toward meeting officer hiring targets, 
while accounting for attrition’’. 
SEC. 213. PORT OF ENTRY TEMPORARY DUTY ASSIGN-
MENTS. 
(a) QUARTERLY REPORT.—Beginning 60 days after 
enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection shall submit a quarterly report to 
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the appropriate congressional committees that includes, 
for the reporting period— 
(1) the number of temporary duty assignments 
of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers and 
support personnel from a port of entry to a tem-
porary duty assignment in response to the Northern 
Triangle Migrant Surge; 
(2) the ports of entry from which such employ-
ees were reassigned; 
(4) the ports of entry to which such employees 
were reassigned; 
(5) the ports of entry at which reimbursable 
service agreements have been entered into that may 
be affected by temporary duty assignments; 
(6) the duration of each temporary duty assign-
ment; 
(7) the specific duties personnel will be under-
taking during each temporary duty assignment; and 
(8) the cost of each temporary duty assignment. 
(b) NOTICE.—Not later than 10 days before rede-
ploying employees from one port of entry to another in 
response to the Northern Triangle Migrant Surge, absent 
emergency circumstances— 
(1) the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection shall notify the director of the 
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port of entry from which employees will be reas-
signed of the intended redeployments; and 
(2) the port director shall notify impacted facili-
ties (including airports, seaports, and land ports) of 
the intended redeployments. 
(a) WORKFORCE BRIEFING.—The Commissioner of 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall brief all af-
fected U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees re-
garding plans to mitigate vulnerabilities created by any 
planned staffing reductions at ports of entry. 
TITLE III—OVERSIGHT 
SEC. 301. AUDITS AND INSPECTIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—On an ongoing basis until the 
Joint Task Force established under section 102 of this 
Act is disbanded, the Comptroller General and Inspector 
General of the Department of Homeland Security shall 
carry out audits and unannounced inspections of facilities 
in the United States used for purposes of maintaining cus-
tody of or otherwise housing individuals apprehended at 
the southern border of the United States, including unac-
companied alien children (as defined in section 462(g)(2)) 
of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
279(g)(2)), and report to Congress on compliance with the 
provisions of the Act. 
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(b) COORDINATION.—The Comptroller General and 
Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity shall, to the extent possible, share information and 
coordinate audits and unannounced inspections to ensure 
that Congress is provided with audit information on a reg-
ular basis and that all facilities in the United States used 
for the purposes of maintaining custody of or otherwise 
housing individuals apprehended at the southern border 
of the United States, including unaccompanied alien chil-
dren (as defined in section 462(g)(2)) of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 279(g)(2)), are subject 
to regular audits and inspections. 
SEC. 302. CONGRESSIONAL ACCESS. 
Any Member of the United States Congress may 
enter, without prior notification, any facility in the United 
States used for purposes of maintaining custody of or oth-
erwise housing individuals apprehended at the southern 
border of the United States, including unaccompanied 
alien children (as defined in section 462(g)(2)), of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 279(g)(2)) for 
purposes of conducting oversight. 
SEC. 303. PHOTOGRAPHS OF CONDITIONS. 
The Inspector General of the Department of Home-
land Security, Comptroller General, or Member of Con-
gress conducting oversight pursuant to section 302 of this 
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Act, shall be authorized to take photographs of conditions 
in any facility in the United States used for purposes of 
maintaining custody of or otherwise housing individuals 
apprehended at the southern border of the United States, 
including unaccompanied alien children (as defined in sec-
tion 462(g)(2)) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 279(g)(2)), but shall not publish photographs with 
personally identifiable information without permission. 
TITLE IV—NORTHERN TRIANGLE 
SEC. 401. RESTORATION OF THE CENTRAL AMERICAN MI-
NORS PROGRAM. 
Not later than 7 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall fully restore the U.S. Citi-
zenship and Immigration Services Central American Mi-
nors Program as the program existed on July 31, 2017, 
to ensure a safe, legal, and orderly alternative to children 
fleeing violence in Northern Triangle countries and, within 
120 days of enactment of this Act, increase the effective-
ness of the program by— 
(1) increasing the number of refugee officers 
available for in-country processing; 
(2) establishing additional site locations; and 
(3) establishing program guidance prioritizing 
final determinations on a completed application 
within 180 days of completion of an application un-
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less the security screening for such child cannot be 
completed during the 180-day period. 
SEC. 402. REFUGEE PROCESSING IN NORTHERN TRIANGLE 
AND MEXICO FOR THIRD COUNTRY RESET-
TLEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall 
coordinate with the United Nations High Commissioner 
for Refugees to support and provide technical assistance 
to the Governments of Northern Triangle countries and 
Mexico to ensure access to global resettlement for eligible 
children and families with protection needs by— 
(1) establishing and expanding in-country ref-
ugee reception centers to meet the humanitarian 
needs of those seeking international protection; 
(2) improving the refugee registration system to 
ensure that all refugees— 
(A) are properly screened for security, in-
cluding biographic and biometric capture; 
(B) receive due process and meaningful ac-
cess to existing legal protections; and 
(C) receive proper documents to ensure 
freedom of movement and access to basic social 
services; 
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(3) creating or expanding a cadre of trained 
refugee officers capable of evaluating and deciding 
individual claims for protection, consistent with 
international law and obligations; and 
(4) developing the capacity to conduct best in-
terest determinations for unaccompanied alien chil-
dren to ensure that— 
(A) such children with international pro-
tection needs are properly registered; and 
(B) their needs are properly met, which 
may include family reunification or resettlement 
based on international protection needs. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
shall submit a report to Congress that describes the plans 
of the Secretary of State to assist in developing the ref-
ugee processing capabilities described in subsection (a). 
SEC. 403. COOPERATION ON COMBATTING HUMAN SMUG-
GLING AND TRAFFICKING. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination 
with the Secretary of State, shall expand partnership ef-
forts with law enforcement entities in the Northern Tri-
angle countries and Mexico seeking to combat human 
smuggling and trafficking in those countries, including— 
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