I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4954 
To expand and improve access to trauma-informed mental health interventions 
for newly arriving immigrants at the border, to alleviate the stress 
of and provide education for border agents, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 27, 2023 
Mrs. NAPOLITANO (for herself, Ms. NORTON, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. GRIJALVA, 
Ms. SALINAS, Mr. VARGAS, and Ms. GARCIA of Texas) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and 
in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned 
A BILL 
To expand and improve access to trauma-informed mental 
health interventions for newly arriving immigrants at 
the border, to alleviate the stress of and provide edu-
cation for border agents, 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 ‘‘Immigrants’ Mental 
Health Act of 2023’’. 
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SEC. 2. TRAINING FOR CERTAIN CBP PERSONNEL IN MEN-
TAL HEALTH ISSUES. 
(a) TRAINING TO IDENTIFY RISK FACTORS
AND 
WARNING SIGNS IN IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commissioner of U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, in consultation with 
the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Sub-
stance Use, the Administrator of the Health Re-
sources and Services Administration, and nongovern-
mental experts in the delivery of health care in hu-
manitarian crises and in the delivery of health care 
to children, shall develop and implement a training 
curriculum for U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
agents and officers assigned to U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection facilities to enable such agents 
and officers to identify the risk factors and warning 
signs in immigrants and refugees of mental health 
issues relating to trauma. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The training curriculum 
described in paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) apply to all U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection agents and officers working at U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection facilities; 
(B) provide for crisis intervention using a 
trauma-informed approach; and 
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(C) provide for mental health screenings 
for immigrants and refugees arriving at the 
border in their preferred language or with ap-
propriate language assistance. 
(b) TRAINING TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH AND 
WELLNESS OF CBP AGENTS AND OFFICERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commissioner of U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, in consultation with 
the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Sub-
stance Use, the Administrator of the Health Re-
sources and Services Administration, and nongovern-
mental experts in the delivery of mental health care, 
shall develop and implement a training curriculum 
for U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and 
officers assigned to U.S. Customs and Border Pro-
tection facilities to address the mental health and 
wellness of individuals working at such facilities. 
(2) REQUIREMENT.—The training curriculum 
described in paragraph (1) shall be designed to help 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and of-
ficers working at U.S. Customs and Border Protec-
tion facilities to— 
(A) better manage their own stress and the 
stress of their coworkers; and 
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(B) be more aware of the psychological 
pressures experienced during their jobs. 
(c) ANNUAL REVIEW OF TRAINING.—Beginning with 
respect to fiscal year 2025, the Assistant Secretary for 
Mental Health and Substance Use shall— 
(1) conduct an annual review of the training 
implemented pursuant to subsections (a) and (b); 
and 
(2) submit the results of each such review, in-
cluding any recommendations for improvement of 
such training, to— 
(A) the Commissioner of U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection; and 
(B) the Committees on Appropriations, 
Energy and Commerce, Homeland Security, 
and the Judiciary of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committees on Appropriations, 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 
of the Senate. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 
out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated— 
(1) for fiscal year 2024, $50,000 to develop the 
training under subsections (a) and (b); and 
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(2) for each of fiscal years 2025 through 
2029— 
(A) $20,000 to implement such training 
pursuant to subsections (a) and (b); and 
(B) such sums as may be necessary to re-
view and make recommendations for such train-
ing pursuant to subsection (c). 
SEC. 3. STAFFING BORDER FACILITIES AND DETENTION 
CENTERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—To adequately evaluate the men-
tal health needs of immigrants, refugees, border patrol 
agents, and staff, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection shall assign at least one qualified men-
tal or behavioral health expert to each U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection facility. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—To be qualified for purposes 
of subsection (a), a mental or behavioral health expert 
shall be— 
(1) bilingual; 
(2) well-versed in culturally appropriate and 
trauma-informed interventions; and 
(3) have particular expertise in child or adoles-
cent mental health or family mental health. 
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(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 
out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated 
$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. 
SEC. 4. NO SHARING OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 
HUMAN SERVICES MENTAL HEALTH INFOR-
MATION FOR ASYLUM DETERMINATIONS, IM-
MIGRATION HEARINGS, OR DEPORTATION 
PROCEEDINGS. 
The officers, employees, and agents of the Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services, including the Office 
of Refugee Resettlement, may not share with the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security, and the officers, employees, 
and agents of the Department of Homeland Security may 
not request or receive from the Department of Health and 
Human Services, for the purposes of an asylum deter-
mination, immigration hearing, or deportation proceeding, 
any information or record that— 
(1) concerns the mental health of an alien; and 
(2) was obtained or produced by a mental or 
behavioral health professional while the alien was in 
a shelter or otherwise in the custody of the Federal 
Government. 
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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