Safe Emergency Response Act

Bill: 115-hr-4398
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Barragan, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
Introduced: 2017-11-15
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration

Detention of persons

Disaster relief and insurance

Emergency planning and evacuation

Immigration status and procedures

Intergovernmental relations

Law enforcement administration and funding

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2017-12-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-11-15
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Safe Emergency Response Act</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to suspend immigration enforcement operations and initiatives, including initiatives associated with evacuations or sheltering and the use of checkpoints within an area for which the President has declared a major disaster or an emergency.</p> <p>State and local immigration enforcement participation, including lawful detentions of non-citizens, shall be suspended except in cases specifically identified by DHS and communicated to the state or locality that pose an urgent and individualized threat to public safety or national security. </p> <p>With respect to persons in state or local detention during a major disaster or an emergency, DHS is urged to support state and local law enforcement agencies to prioritize the safety needs of their communities and individual detainees.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4398 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 15, 2017 Ms. Barragán (for herself, Ms. Lofgren , Ms. Norton , Mr. Evans , Mr. McGovern , Mrs. Napolitano , Mr. Beyer , Mr. Huffman , Mr. Gutiérrez , Mr. Vargas , Mr. Soto , Mr. Gomez , Mr. Carbajal , and Mr. Kihuen ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to suspend immigration enforcement operations within an area for which the President has declared a major disaster or an emergency, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Safe Emergency Response Act . 2. Suspension of less serious immigration enforcement operations in areas affected by major disaster or emergency (a) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security shall suspend immigration enforcement operations and initiatives, including immigration enforcement initiatives associated with evacuations or sheltering and the use of checkpoints for immigration enforcement purposes, within an area for which the President has declared a major disaster or an emergency under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). (b) State and local responsibilities To the extent State and local officials are otherwise permitted to participate in immigration enforcement, including any lawful detention of individuals who are not citizens of the United States, such participation shall be suspended except in cases specifically identified by the Secretary of Homeland Security, and communicated to the State or locality, that pose an urgent and individualized threat to public safety or national security. With respect to persons in State or local detention during a major disaster or an emergency, the Secretary of Homeland Security should advise and support State and local law enforcement agencies to prioritize the safety needs of their communities and individual detainees.