Emergency Migration Response Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-6535
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI-7]
Introduced: 2023-11-30
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration

Congressional oversight

Emergency planning and evacuation

Immigrant health and welfare

Immigration status and procedures

Intergovernmental relations

Latin America

Law enforcement officers

Mexico

Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2024-12-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6535 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 30, 2023 Ms. Slotkin introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security , and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means , Transportation and Infrastructure , and the Judiciary , 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 provide for an emergency response by the Department of Homeland Security to migration surges, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Emergency Migration Response Act of 2023 . 2. Emergency response to migration surges (a) Authority To declare an extraordinary migration event (1) In general The President, at the request of the Secretary of Homeland Security or a State or local government entity, may declare an extraordinary migration event that is of such a magnitude that an appropriate, timely, or effective response is beyond the scope of the existing infrastructure and staffing levels of the Department of Homeland Security or State or local governmental resources. The Secretary, in consultation with the heads of relevant Federal, State, and local agencies, should establish quantitative and qualitative parameters described in paragraph (2) to determine if an event is an extraordinary migration event and when such a declaration of such an event should terminate. (2) Parameters described Quantitative and qualitative parameters described in this paragraph may include the following: (A) The average number of border apprehensions per week by U.S. Customs and Border Protection compared to historical data. (B) Staffing and resources available to the U.S. Border Patrol operating in sectors affected by a migrant surge. (C) Migrant population composition. (D) Projected or assessed changes in any of the parameters described in this paragraph. (3) Review and revision The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the heads of relevant Federal, State, and local agencies, should, not less frequently than annually, review and, if appropriate, revise the quantitative and qualitative parameters described in paragraph (2). (4) Notification If a quantitative or qualitative parameter described in paragraph (2) is revised pursuant to paragraph (3), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, not later than 30 days after each such revision notify the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate of each such revision. (b) Appointment of a Federal coordinating officer (1) In general Upon the declaration of an extraordinary migration event by the President, the President shall appoint an official of the Department of Homeland Security to serve as the Federal coordinating officer. Such officer shall report to the Secretary of Homeland Security and shall— (A) conduct an appraisal of the types of resources, including relating to transportation, facilities, personnel, health, and intelligence, necessary to respond to such an event; (B) coordinate— (i) the administration of assistance and support offered to the Department by other Federal departments and agencies in response to such an event; (ii) activities of State and local governments when requested by such governments in response to such an event; and (iii) activities of nongovernmental organizations providing relief and assistance operating in the area of such event and providing services to migrants in response to such event when requested by such organizations; and (C) advise the Secretary and the President regarding appropriate timing relating to the termination of such an event. (2) Rule of construction Nothing in paragraph (1) may be construed as prohibiting the senior coordinating official of the Southwest Border Coordination Center of the Department of Homeland Security from serving as the Federal coordinating officer appointed pursuant to such paragraph if the President determines such is appropriate. (c) Southwest Border Coordination Center (1) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security may utilize the capabilities of the Southwest Border Coordination Center of the Department of Homeland Security (SBCC) in response to the declaration of an extraordinary migration event by the President. The Center may be staffed by officers and officials of the Department, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), as well as officers and officials of relevant Federal departments and agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Defense. (2) Lead field coordinators Subject to the direction of the Federal coordinating officer under subsection (b), the senior coordinating official of the Southwest Border Coordination Center may establish lead field coordinators in response to the declaration of an extraordinary migration event by the President. (3) Incident management assistance teams Subject to the direction of the Federal coordinating officer under subsection (b), the senior coordinating official of the Southwest Border Coordination Center may establish incident management assistance teams to support the Center and lead field coordinators under paragraph (2). (4) Incident Action Planning Process In responding to the declaration of an extraordinary migration event by the President, the Southwest Border Coordination Center shall use an Incident Action Planning Process to address emerging resource requirements related to such event. (d) Formation of migration response teams Upon the declaration of an extraordinary migration event by the President, the Federal coordinating officer appointed pursuant to subsection (b) shall establish migration response teams to be deployed to assist the Southwest Border Coordination Cell under subsection (c), including relating to the following: (1) Coordinating the construction of specialized migration processing facilities with staff from other Federal departments and agencies, State and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations to assist with the humanitarian needs of arriving migrants. (2) Working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, and other appropriate organizations to establish temporary holding facilities for migrants. (3) Coordinating with the National Disaster Medical System of the Department of Health and Human Services, and, as appropriate, FEMA Corps, the private sector, and the National Guard, to ensure such facilities are staffed with health professionals who are able to provide medical and mental health assistance and other humanitarian support to such migrants. (e) Formation of processing teams Upon declaration of an extraordinary migration event by the President, the Secretary of Homeland Security may take such actions as may be necessary to process in a timely manner individuals arriving at the border, including by— (1) reassigning United States Citizenship and Immigration Services asylum officers and interpreters to U.S. Customs and Border Protection border facilities; and (2) surging resources to process migrants in their countries of origin. (f) Arrangements with relief and assistance organizations Upon declaration of an extraordinary migration event by the President, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Federal coordinating officer under subsection (b), and their designees may enter into arrangements with nongovernmental organizations providing relief and assistance operating in the area of such event to utilize the personnel and facilities of such organizations to provide essential services, including housing, temporary shelter, medical, legal, or other essential services, to migrants. Any such arrangements shall include provisions assuring that use of Federal facilities, supplies, and services adhere to regulations prohibiting duplication of benefits and guaranteeing nondiscrimination. (g) Funding There is established an Emergency Migration Response Fund. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund for fiscal 2024 up to $1,500,000,000 to be made available to carry out this Act in the event of a declaration of an extraordinary migration event by the President, including— (1) $1,060,000,000 for U.S. Customs and Border Protection soft-sided facilities, medical care, transportation, and personnel costs; (2) $150,000,000 for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program; (3) $50,000,000 for United States Citizenship and Immigration Services personnel costs; and (4) $50,000,000 for Federal Emergency Management Agency for grants to supporting relief organizations. (h) Notification to Congress Not later than 30 days after the President declares an extraordinary migration event, the President shall transmit to Congress a notification relating thereto. Such notification shall include information describing the actions taken pursuant to this Act in response to such an event, including information relating to funding, personnel, and resources.