Short-Term Detention Standards Act
Bill: H.R.6795 | Sponsor: Rep. Slotkin, Elissa (D-MI)
Policy area: Immigration

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.

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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Short-Term Detention Standards 
Act''.

SEC. 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)) 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 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.''.

SEC. 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.
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