Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Custody Act

Bill: 116-s-2135
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2019-07-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Aging
Border security and unlawful immigration
Child care and development
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Cosmetics and personal care
Crime prevention
Crimes against children
Department of Homeland Security
Detention of persons
Disability and paralysis
Domestic violence and child abuse
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment and training programs
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Immigrant health and welfare
Immigration status and procedures
Intergovernmental relations
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Law enforcement officers
Lighting, heating, cooling
Medical ethics
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Nutrition and diet
Prescription drugs
Public-private cooperation
Racial and ethnic relations
Religion
Right of privacy
Sex offenses
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Water use and supply
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-17
text: 

Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Custody Act

 
This bill imposes requirements and standards related to the care of aliens in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody.
 
CBP shall conduct an initial health screening of each alien in custody to identify those with acute conditions and high-risk vulnerabilities and to provide appropriate health care. CBP shall conduct the screening within 12 hours of each alien's arrival at a CBP facility, and within 6 hours for certain priority individuals such as children, pregnant women, and those with disabilities. 
 
The bill imposes various requirements related to the services, personnel, and infrastructure for providing such screenings, such as providing interpreters, chaperones, and mental health treatment when necessary.
 
CBP shall ensure detainees have access to drinking water, toilets, sanitation facilities, hygiene products, food, and shelter. The bill imposes certain standards relating to such requirements, such as the minimum amount of drinking water for each detainee and the acceptable temperature range of the shelters.
 
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall enter into memoranda of understanding with various emergency government relief agencies to address instances when surge capacity is necessary. 
 
The Inspector General of DHS shall conduct unannounced inspections of ports of entry, border patrol stations, and detention facilities and report the results to Congress. The Government Accountability Office shall assess CBP management of such facilities and whether CBP and DHS processes are in compliance with this bill's requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-07-17
text: Introduced in Senate