I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4718 
To restrict the enforcement of the immigration laws at polling places, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 17, 2019 
Ms. GARCIA of Texas (for herself, Ms. NORTON, Ms. ESCOBAR, Ms. JACKSON 
LEE, Mr. VELA, Mr. CISNEROS, Ms. HAALAND, Mr. EVANS, and Ms. 
BARRAGA´N) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland 
Security, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To restrict the enforcement of the immigration laws at 
polling places, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Polling Access Safety 
Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. RESTRICTION OF ENFORCEMENT OF THE IMMIGRA-
TION LAWS AT POLLING PLACES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
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(1) 
RESTRICTION
ON
ENFORCEMENT
AC-
TIONS.—An enforcement action may not take place 
within one mile of a polling place on a voting day 
except under exigent circumstances. 
(2) APPLICATION.—This subsection shall apply 
to any enforcement action by a covered officer or 
employee of the Department of Homeland Security. 
(b) ID CHECKS PROHIBITED.—No officer or em-
ployee of the Federal Government may request any form 
of identification from an individual at a polling place on 
a voting day, except in exigent circumstances. 
(c) NOTICE.—The chief election administrator of 
each State shall ensure that a notice of the prohibition 
under subsection (a) is posted in a prominent location at 
each polling place on a voting day. Such notice shall be 
in English, Spanish, and any other language that is preva-
lent in the community of the polling place. 
SEC. 3. RESTRICTION ON ENFORCEMENT OF THE IMMIGRA-
TION LAWS ON VOTING DAYS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—No officer or employee of the De-
partment of Homeland Security may engage in any of the 
following activities on a voting day, except in exigent cir-
cumstances: 
(1) Temporary vehicle checkpoints. 
(2) Searches of public transportation. 
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(3) Public training exercises. 
(b) DESCRIPTION OF EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES.— 
Not later than 30 days after any enforcement action is 
taken by an officer or employee of the Department of 
Homeland Security on a voting day as a result of exigent 
circumstances, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
provide to each of the following a report containing a de-
scription of the circumstances requiring immediate en-
forcement action on a voting day: 
(1) The Office of Inspector General of the De-
partment of Homeland Security. 
(2) The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Lib-
erties of the Department of Homeland Security. 
(3) The Committee on Homeland Security of 
the House of Representatives. 
(4) The Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate. 
(5) The Committees on the Judiciary of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate. 
(6) The Office of the Special Counsel. 
SEC. 4. RESTRICTION ON THE USE OF IMMIGRATION IN-
FORMATION OBTAINED ON VOTING DAYS. 
No information obtained in violation of section 2 or 
3 may be used to initiate deportation proceedings. 
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SEC. 5. PENALTIES. 
An officer or employee of the Federal Government 
who knowingly violates section 2 or 3 shall be subject to 
a civil money penalty of not less than $5,000 and not more 
than $10,000. 
SEC. 6. ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are established 3 positions 
within the competitive service in the Office of Inspector 
General of the Department of Homeland Security, the Of-
fice for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department 
of Homeland Security, and the Office of the Special Coun-
sel (established under section 1211 of title 5, United 
States Code). The duties of such positions shall consist 
of monitoring and ensuring compliance with the require-
ments of this Act. 
(b) HATCH ACT TRAINING.—The Secretary of Home-
land Security shall establish a training program for cov-
ered officers and employees of the Department of Home-
land Security on compliance with the requirements of sub-
chapter III of chapter 73 of title 5, United States Code 
(commonly referred to as the ‘‘Hatch Act’’). Training 
under such program shall be required to be completed an-
nually for each such employee. 
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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