Title: Immigration and Customs Enforcement Authorization Act of 2017
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Authorization Act of 2017
This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to: (1) establish, by statute, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); (2) establish within ICE the Offices of Homeland Security Investigations, Enforcement and Removal Operations, Principal Legal Advisor, Management and Administration, and Professional Responsibility; and (3) remove references to the Bureau of Border Security.
DHS shall: (1) authorize all deportation officers who have successfully completed basic immigration law enforcement training to exercise specified powers to arrest or to execute warrants for administrative and criminal arrests, and to carry firearms; (2) increase the number of ICE detention enforcement officers, deportation officers, and prosecutors; and (3) establish a pilot program for in-field electronic processing of documents, placing detainers, and collecting biometric identification data.
The bill establishes: (1) a Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office, and (2) an ICE Advisory Council.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2406 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2406

To amend section 442 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize 
   United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 11, 2017

Mr. Goodlatte introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
   Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on 
Homeland Security, and Ways and Means, 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 concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend section 442 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize 
   United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 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 ``Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
Authorization Act of 2017''.

       TITLE I--UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT

SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS 
              ENFORCEMENT.

    (a) In General.--Section 442 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
(6 U.S.C. 252) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 442. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS 
              ENFORCEMENT.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established within the Department an 
agency to be known as `United States Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement'. The mission of United States Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement is to protect the United States by enforcing the full range 
of immigration and customs laws within the interior of the United 
States.
    ``(b) Director of United States Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement.--There shall be at the head of United States Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement a Director of United States Immigration and 
Customs Enforcement (in this section referred to as the `Director'), 
who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and 
consent of the Senate, and who shall report to the Secretary of 
Homeland Security.
    ``(c) Duties and Qualifications.--The Director shall--
            ``(1) have a minimum of 5 years of professional experience 
        in law enforcement (which may include enforcement of the 
        immigration laws, as defined in section 101(a)(17) of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17))), and a 
        minimum of 5 years of management experience;
            ``(2) seek the removal of inadmissible and deportable 
        aliens and otherwise enforce the immigration laws (as defined 
        in section 101(a)(17) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
        U.S.C. 1101(a)(17))), other than through criminal prosecution;
            ``(3) investigate and, where appropriate, refer for 
        prosecution, any criminal violation of Federal law relating to 
        or involving--
                    ``(A) the immigration laws (as defined in section 
                101(a)(17) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
                U.S.C. 1101(a)(17)));
                    ``(B) customs, trade, or import or export control, 
                including the illicit possession, movement of, or trade 
                in goods, services, property, contraband, arms, 
                instruments of terrorism, items controlled or 
                prohibited from export, pornography, intellectual 
                property, or monetary instruments;
                    ``(C) transnational money laundering or bulk cash 
                smuggling;
                    ``(D) gangs or criminal syndicates engaged in 
                transnational criminal activity;
                    ``(E) chapter 40 or 44 of title 18, United States 
                Code, or other violation relating to firearms, 
                explosives, or other destructive devices involving an 
                alien;
                    ``(F) the subjection of aliens to a severe form of 
                trafficking in persons, as defined in section 103 of 
                the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 
                U.S.C. 7102);
                    ``(G) identification, travel, or employment 
                documents; or
                    ``(H) unlawful use of personal information, 
                including immigration document fraud, when such use 
                relates to or affects border security, terrorism, 
                customs, immigration, naturalization, trade, travel, or 
                transportation security;
            ``(4) coordinate with Federal, State, local, tribal, and 
        foreign agencies in carrying out the duties described in 
        paragraphs (2) and (3);
            ``(5) in coordination with the Department of State and the 
        Office of International Affairs of the Department, establish 
        staff liaison offices and vetted units in appropriate foreign 
        countries to support the counterterrorism efforts and other 
        international activities and relationships of United States 
        Immigration and Customs Enforcement;
            ``(6) establish, maintain, and administer appropriate 
        interagency law enforcement centers in furtherance of the 
        Director's statutory duties, including the centers specified in 
        subparagraphs (C) and (D) of subsection (f)(3); and
            ``(7) carry out other duties prescribed by statute, or 
        delegated by the Secretary, if within the statutory authority 
        of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
    ``(d) General Enforcement Powers.--The Director may authorize 
agents and officers of United States Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement to--
            ``(1) execute any warrants issued under the laws of the 
        United States;
            ``(2) issue and serve administrative or judicial subpoenas 
        and summonses;
            ``(3) carry firearms;
            ``(4) make arrests without warrant for any offense against 
        the United States committed in their presence, or for any 
        felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if they 
        have reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be 
        arrested has committed or is committing such felony;
            ``(5) seize any property, whether real or personal, that is 
        involved in any violation or attempted violation, or which 
        constitutes proceeds traceable to a violation, of those 
        provisions of law which United States Immigration and Customs 
        Enforcement is authorized by statute to enforce;
            ``(6) offer and pay rewards for services and information 
        leading to the apprehension of persons involved in the 
        violation or attempted violation of those provisions of law 
        which United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement is 
        authorized by statute to enforce; and
            ``(7) issue civil detainers for purposes of the enforcement 
        of the immigration laws (as defined in section 101(a)(17) of 
        the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17))).
    ``(e) Deputy Director.--There shall be in United States Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement a Deputy Director who shall assist the Director 
in the management of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
    ``(f) Office of Homeland Security Investigations.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is established in United States 
        Immigration and Customs Enforcement an Office of Homeland 
        Security Investigations.
            ``(2) Executive associate director.--There shall be at the 
        head of the Office of Homeland Security Investigations an 
        Executive Associate Director, who shall report to the Director.
            ``(3) Duties.--The Office of Homeland Security 
        Investigations shall--
                    ``(A) conduct investigations of terrorist 
                organizations and other criminal organizations that 
                threaten homeland or border security;
                    ``(B) administer the program to collect information 
                relating to nonimmigrant foreign students and other 
                exchange program participants described in section 641 
                of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant 
                Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1372), including 
                the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System 
                established under such section, and use such 
                information to carry out the enforcement functions of 
                United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement;
                    ``(C) administer a National Intellectual Property 
                Rights Coordination Center, which shall serve as the 
                primary information sharing forum within the Federal 
                Government to coordinate, promote, and assist Federal 
                and international investigations of intellectual 
                property offenses;
                    ``(D) administer a National Export Enforcement 
                Coordination Center, which shall serve as the primary 
                information sharing forum within the Federal Government 
                to coordinate, promote, and assist Federal and 
                international investigations of export control 
                offenses;
                    ``(E) conduct investigations of alleged violations 
                of, and make arrests under, section 274A of the 
                Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a), 
                including referring for prosecution, or levying 
                monetary penalties against, an employer found to be in 
                violation of such section, and administratively 
                arresting, and initiating removal proceeding against, 
                any alien unlawfully employed;
                    ``(F) administer a Human Smuggling and Trafficking 
                Center, which shall serve as the primary information 
                sharing forum within the Federal Government to 
                coordinate, promote, and assist Federal and 
                international investigations in human smuggling and 
                trafficking investigations;
                    ``(G) administer the Bulk Cash Smuggling Center, 
                which shall serve to investigate domestic and 
                international bulk cash smuggling activities and 
                support law enforcement in efforts to investigate and 
                restrict bulk cash smuggling;
                    ``(H) investigate and refer for prosecution public 
                safety matters involving--
                            ``(i) large-scale operations prosecuted 
                        pursuant to chapter 96 (relating to racketeer 
                        influenced and corrupt organizations) of title 
                        18, United States Code; and
                            ``(ii) the smuggling into, and sale within, 
                        the United States of weapons;
                    ``(I) investigate and refer for prosecution matters 
                involving immigration benefits and document fraud; and
                    ``(J) additional duties within the statutory 
                authority of United States Immigration and Customs 
                Enforcement as assigned or delegated by the Director.
    ``(g) Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is established in United States 
        Immigration and Customs Enforcement an Office of Enforcement 
        and Removal Operations.
            ``(2) Executive associate director.--There shall be at the 
        head of the Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations an 
        Executive Associate Director, who shall report to the Director.
            ``(3) Duties.--The Office of Enforcement and Removal 
        Operations shall--
                    ``(A) identify, arrest, detain, and seek the 
                removal of aliens, and remove aliens ordered removed, 
                who--
                            ``(i) are inadmissible or deportable under 
                        section 212(a)(3) or 237(a)(4) of the 
                        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
                        1182(a)(3) or 1227(a)(4)), or otherwise present 
                        a national security risk to the United States;
                            ``(ii) are inadmissible or deportable under 
                        section 212(a)(2) or 237(a)(2) of the 
                        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
                        1182(a)(2) or 1227(a)(2));
                            ``(iii) undermine the border security 
                        efforts and operations of the United States;
                            ``(iv) enter the United States in violation 
                        of Federal law;
                            ``(v) are unlawfully present in the United 
                        States;
                            ``(vi) are members of a criminal gang or 
                        participate in gang-related crimes, except as 
                        described in subsection (f)(3);
                            ``(vii) constitute threats to the public 
                        safety; or
                            ``(viii) are otherwise subject to 
                        exclusion, deportation, or removal from the 
                        United States;
                    ``(B) refer for prosecution aliens described in 
                subparagraph (A) or section 922(g)(5) of title 18, 
                United States Code; and
                    ``(C) additional duties within the statutory 
                authority of United States Immigration and Customs 
                Enforcement as assigned or delegated by the Director.
    ``(h) Office of the Principal Legal Advisor.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is established in United States 
        Immigration and Customs Enforcement an Office of the Principal 
        Legal Advisor.
            ``(2) Principal legal advisor.--There shall be at the head 
        of the Office the Principal Legal Advisor a Principal Legal 
        Advisor, who shall report to the Director.
            ``(3) Duties.--The office of the Principal Legal Advisor 
        shall, consistent with section 103(a)(1)(J) of the Homeland 
        Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 113(a)(1)(J))--
                    ``(A) provide specialized legal advice and policy 
                guidance to the Director;
                    ``(B) represent the Department in all exclusion, 
                deportation, and removal proceedings before the 
                Executive Office for Immigration Review;
                    ``(C) represent United States Immigration and 
                Customs Enforcement in venues and fora as authorized by 
                the Director or General Counsel of the Department of 
                Homeland Security, or otherwise permitted by law; and
                    ``(D) carry out other duties within the statutory 
                authority of United States Immigration and Customs 
                Enforcement as assigned or delegated by the Director or 
                General Counsel.
    ``(i) Office of Professional Responsibility.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is established in United States 
        Immigration and Customs Enforcement an Office of Professional 
        Responsibility.
            ``(2) Assistant director.--There shall be at the head of 
        the Office of Professional Responsibility an Assistant 
        Director, who shall report to the Director.
            ``(3) Duties.--The Office of Professional Responsibility 
        shall--
                    ``(A) investigate allegations of administrative, 
                civil, and criminal misconduct involving any employee 
                or contractor of United States Immigration and Customs 
                Enforcement;
                    ``(B) inspect and review United States Immigration 
                and Customs Enforcement's offices, operations, and 
                processes, including detention facilities operated or 
                used by United States Immigration and Customs 
                Enforcement, and provide an independent review of 
                United States Immigration and Custom Enforcement's 
                organizational health, effectiveness, and efficiency of 
                mission; and
                    ``(C) provide and manage the security programs and 
                operations for United States Immigration and Customs 
                Enforcement.
    ``(j) Office of Management and Administration.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is established in United States 
        Immigration and Customs Enforcement an Office of Management and 
        Administration.
            ``(2) Executive associate director.--There shall be at the 
        head of the Office of Management and Administration an 
        Executive Associate Director, who shall report to the Director.
            ``(3) Duties.--The Office of Management and Administration 
        shall--
                    ``(A) administer the Office of Human Capital to 
                provide guidance to the agency and ensure compliance 
                with human resources policies and practices;
                    ``(B) administer the Office of Chief Financial 
                Officer;
                    ``(C) administer the Office of Policy to develop 
                and communicate the agency policies and priorities;
                    ``(D) create best practices to efficiently respond 
                to all Freedom of Information Act requests received by 
                the agency;
                    ``(E) manage all information technology systems 
                within the agency; and
                    ``(F) carry out additional duties as assigned or 
                delegated by the Director.
    ``(k) Other Authorities.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may establish such other 
        Executive Associate Directors, Assistant Directors, agents, 
        officers, or other offices as the Secretary determines 
        necessary to carry out the missions, functions, authorities, 
        and duties of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
        within its statutory authority.
            ``(2) Victims of immigration crime engagement office.--
        There is established a Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement 
        Office that shall provide releasable information about a 
        criminal alien to the victim and victim's family and provide 
        them with referrals to appropriate resources. This office shall 
        also carry out additional duties within the statutory authority 
        of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement as 
        assigned or delegated by the Director.
            ``(3) Prohibition on office of public advocate.--
        Notwithstanding paragraph (1), United States Immigration and 
        Customs Enforcement shall not operate any Office of Public 
        Advocate or any successor office that carries out the same 
        duties as the former Office of Public Advocate.
            ``(4) Departmental evidence databases.--Notwithstanding any 
        other provision of this Act, all officers within the Office of 
        Enforcement and Removal Operations shall be provided access to 
        any Department database necessary for the proper collection, 
        recordation, and retention of evidence collected as required to 
        carry out the duties of the Office under subsection (g).
    ``(l) Other Federal Agencies.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to limit the existing authority of any other Federal 
agency.''.
    (b) Special Rules.--
            (1) Treatment.--Section 442 of the Homeland Security Act of 
        2002, as amended by subsection (a), shall be treated as if 
        included in the enactment of such Act as of the date of the 
        enactment of such Act, and, in addition to the functions, 
        missions, duties, and authorities specified in such amended 
        section 442, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
        shall continue to perform and carry out the functions, 
        missions, duties, and authorities under section 442 of such Act 
        as in existence on the day before the date of the enactment of 
        this Act.
            (2) Rules of construction.--
                    (A) Rules and regulations.--Notwithstanding 
                paragraph (1), nothing in this Act may be construed as 
                affecting in any manner any rule or regulation issued 
                or promulgated pursuant to any provision of law, 
                including section 442 of the Homeland Security Act of 
                2002 as in existence on the day before the date of the 
                enactment of this Act, and any such rule or regulation 
                shall continue to have full force and effect on and 
                after such date.
                    (B) Other actions.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), 
                nothing in this Act may be construed as affecting in 
                any manner any action, determination, policy, or 
                decision pursuant to section 442 of the Homeland 
                Security Act of 2002 as in existence on the day before 
                the date of the enactment of this Act, and any such 
                action, determination, policy, or decision shall 
                continue to have full force and effect on and after 
                such date.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by striking the item 
relating to section 442 and inserting the following:

``Sec. 442. Establishment of United States Immigration and Customs 
                            Enforcement.''.
    (d) Transportation.--Section 1344(b)(6) of title 31, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting ``the Director of United States 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Commissioner of Customs and 
Border Protection,'' after ``the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement 
Administration,''.
    (e) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Title 5.--Section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, 
        is amended by inserting before the item relating to ``Director 
        of the Office of Government Ethics'' the following:
            ``Director of United States Immigration and Customs 
        Enforcement.''.
            (2) Inspector general act.--Section 8I(e) of the Inspector 
        General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking 
        ``the Bureau of Border Security,'' and inserting ``United 
        States Immigration and Customs Enforcement,''.
            (3) Homeland security act.--The Homeland Security Act of 
        2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``Assistant Secretary of the Bureau 
                of Border Security'' each place such term appears and 
                inserting ``Director of United States Immigration and 
                Customs Enforcement''; and
                    (B) by striking ``the Bureau of Border Security'' 
                and ``U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement'' each 
                place such terms appear and inserting ``United States 
                Immigration and Customs Enforcement''.

     TITLE II--AID TO IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

SEC. 201. ICE DEPORTATION OFFICERS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall authorize 
all deportation officers of the Department of Homeland Security who 
have successfully completed basic immigration law enforcement training 
to exercise the powers conferred by--
            (1) section 287(a)(5)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality 
        Act (8 U.S.C. 1357(a)(5)(A)) to arrest for any offense against 
        the United States;
            (2) section 287(a)(5)(B) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 
        1357(a)(5)(B)) to arrest for any felony;
            (3) section 274(a) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1324(a)) to arrest 
        for bringing in, transporting, or harboring certain aliens, or 
        inducing them to enter;
            (4) section 287(a) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1357(a)) to 
        execute warrants of arrest for administrative immigration 
        violations issued under section 236 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1226) 
        or to execute warrants of criminal arrest issued under the 
        authority of the United States; and
            (5) section 287(a) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1357(a)) to carry 
        firearms, if they are individually qualified by training and 
        experience to handle and safely operate the firearms they are 
        permitted to carry, maintain proficiency in the use of such 
        firearms, and adhere to the provisions of the enforcement 
        standard governing the use of force.
    (b) Arrest Powers.--Section 287(a)(2) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1357(a)(2)) is amended by striking 
``regulation and is likely to escape before a warrant can be obtained 
for his arrest,'' and inserting ``regulation,''.

SEC. 202. ICE DETENTION ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

    (a) Authorization.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall, 
subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, 
increase the number of positions for full-time active duty United 
States Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention enforcement 
officers by 2,500 above the number of full-time positions for which 
funds were appropriated for fiscal year 2017. The Secretary shall 
determine the rate at which the additional officers will be added with 
due regard to filling positions as expeditiously as possible without 
making any compromises in the selection or the training of the 
additional officers.
    (b) Duties.--United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
detention enforcement officers who have successfully completed 
detention enforcement officers' basic training shall be responsible 
for--
            (1) taking and maintaining custody of any person who has 
        been arrested by an immigration officer;
            (2) transporting and guarding immigration detainees;
            (3) securing Department of Homeland Security detention 
        facilities; and
            (4) assisting in the processing of detainees.

SEC. 203. ENSURING THE SAFETY OF ICE OFFICERS.

    (a) Body Armor.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure 
that every United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
deportation officer on duty is issued high-quality body armor that is 
appropriate for the climate and risks faced by the agent. Enough body 
armor must be purchased to cover every agent in the field.
    (b) Weapons.--Such Secretary shall ensure that United States 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation officers are equipped 
with weapons that are reliable and effective to protect themselves, 
their fellow agents, and innocent third parties from the threats posed 
by armed criminals. Such weapons shall include, at a minimum, standard-
issue handguns, M-4 (or equivalent) rifles, and Tasers.
    (c) Special Training for High-Risk Enforcement Operations.--Such 
Secretary shall provide appropriate training and certification to 
selected United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation 
officers, at each field office, to conduct high-risk enforcement 
operations requiring enhanced tactical capabilities effectively to 
combat known dangers, to assist in high-risk transports, or to 
participate in other special assignments as designated by the Secretary 
and consistent with law, except that nothing in this subsection shall 
be construed to impose a requirement that such training be completed, 
or such certification be obtained, in order to participate in such a 
high-risk enforcement operation.
    (d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 204. ICE ADVISORY COUNCIL.

    (a) Establishment.--An ICE Advisory Council shall be established 
not later than 3 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Membership.--The ICE Advisor Council shall be comprised of 7 
members.
    (c) Appointment.--Members shall be appointed in the following 
manner:
            (1) One member shall be appointed by the President.
            (2) One member shall be appointed by the Chairman of the 
        Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives.
            (3) One member shall be appointed by the Chairman of the 
        Judiciary Committee of the Senate.
            (4) One member shall be appointed by the Local 511, the ICE 
        prosecutor's union.
            (5) Three members shall be appointed by the National 
        Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council.
    (d) Term.--Members shall serve renewable, 2-year terms.
    (e) Voluntary.--Membership shall be voluntary and non-remunerated, 
except that members will receive reimbursement from the Secretary of 
Homeland Security for travel and other related expenses.
    (f) Retaliation Protection.--Members who are employed by the 
Secretary of Homeland Security shall be protected from retaliation by 
their supervisors, managers, and other Department of Homeland Security 
employees for their participation on the Council.
    (g) Purpose.--The purpose of the Council is to advise the Congress 
and the Secretary of Homeland Security on issues including the 
following:
            (1) The current status of immigration enforcement efforts, 
        including prosecutions and removals, the effectiveness of such 
        efforts, and how enforcement could be improved.
            (2) The effectiveness of cooperative efforts between the 
        Secretary of Homeland Security and other law enforcement 
        agencies, including additional types of enforcement activities 
        that the Secretary should be engaged in, such as State and 
        local criminal task forces.
            (3) Personnel, equipment, and other resource needs of field 
        personnel.
            (4) Improvements that should be made to the organizational 
        structure of the Department of Homeland Security, including 
        whether the position of immigration enforcement agent should be 
        merged into the deportation officer position.
            (5) The effectiveness of specific enforcement policies and 
        regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
        and whether other enforcement priorities should be considered.
    (h) Reports.--The Council shall provide quarterly reports to the 
Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Committees on the Judiciary of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives and to the Secretary of 
Homeland Security. The Council members shall meet directly with the 
Chairmen and Ranking Members (or their designated representatives) and 
with the Secretary to discuss their reports every 6 months.

SEC. 205. PILOT PROGRAM FOR ELECTRONIC FIELD PROCESSING.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish 
a pilot program in at least 5 of the 10 United States Immigration and 
Customs Enforcement field offices with the largest removal caseloads to 
allow United States Immigration and Customs deportation officers to--
            (1) electronically process and serve charging documents, 
        including notices to appear, while in the field;
            (2) electronically process and place detainers while in the 
        field; and
            (3) electronically collect biometric data for the purpose 
        of identifying an alien and establishing both immigration 
        status and criminal history while in the field.
    (b) Duties.--The pilot program described in subsection (a) shall be 
designed to allow deportation officers to use handheld or vehicle-
mounted computers to--
            (1) enter any required data, including personal information 
        about the alien subject and the reason for issuing the 
        document;
            (2) apply the electronic signature of the issuing officer 
        or agent;
            (3) set the date the alien is required to appear before an 
        immigration judge, in the case of notices to appear;
            (4) print any documents the alien subject may be required 
        to sign, along with additional copies of documents to be served 
        on the alien; and
            (5) interface with the ENFORCE database so that all data is 
        stored and retrievable.
    (c) Construction.--The pilot program described in subsection (a) 
shall be designed to replace, to the extent possible, the current 
paperwork and data-entry process used for issuing such charging 
documents and detainers.
    (d) Deadline.--The Secretary shall initiate the pilot program 
described in subsection (a) not later than 6 months after the date of 
the enactment of this Act.
    (e) Report.--The Government Accountability Office shall report to 
the Judiciary Committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
no later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act on 
the effectiveness of the pilot program and provide recommendations for 
improving it.
    (f) Advisory Council.--The ICE Advisory Council established by 
section 204 shall include recommendations on how the pilot program 
should work in the first quarterly report of the Council, and shall 
include assessments of the program and recommendations for improvement 
in each subsequent report.
    (g) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 206. ADDITIONAL ICE DEPORTATION OFFICERS AND SUPPORT STAFF.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall, subject 
to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, increase the 
number of positions for full-time active-duty United States Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement deportation officers by 10,000 above the number 
of full-time positions for which funds were appropriated for fiscal 
year 2017. The Secretary will determine the rate at which the 
additional officers will be added with due regard to filling the 
positions as expeditiously as possible without making any compromises 
in the selection or the training of the additional officers.
    (b) Support Staff.--The Secretary shall, subject to the 
availability of appropriations for such purpose, increase the number of 
positions for full-time support staff for United States Immigration and 
Customs Enforcement deportation officers by 700 above the number of 
full-time positions for which funds were appropriated for fiscal year 
2017.

SEC. 207. ADDITIONAL ICE PROSECUTORS.

    The Secretary of Homeland Security shall, subject to the 
availability of appropriations for such purpose, increase the number of 
positions for full-time trial attorneys working for United States 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement by 60 above the number of full-time 
positions for which funds were appropriated for fiscal year 2017. The 
Secretary shall determine the rate at which the additional trial 
attorneys will be added with due regard to filling positions as 
expeditiously as possible without making any compromises in the 
selection or the training of the additional attorneys.
                                 <all>