Legis Daily

DHS Community Consultation Act of 2026

USA119th CongressHR-10259| House 
| Updated: 9/3/2026
Veronica Escobar

Veronica Escobar

Democratic Representative

Texas

Homeland Security Committee, Judiciary Committee, Armed Services Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Before constructing or acquiring any facility for immigration detention, the Secretary of Homeland Security must engage in extensive community consultation. This includes consulting with local government and elected officials , various stakeholders such as community and business leaders, and community members , along with local public health authorities and emergency services. The Secretary must also determine potential impacts on healthcare, emergency services, community health, local infrastructure (including water, wastewater, and electric grids), and roads. Following these assessments, a public meeting must be held, and a 60-day public comment period established, with responses to all comments received. A key provision grants local governments the authority to prevent construction; if a municipality issues an official declaration prohibiting a detention facility, DHS is barred from building it there. The bill also establishes clear prohibitions on the types of structures and locations that can be used for detention. Specifically, it bans retrofitting or renovating existing structures not originally intended to house people, such as warehouses or commercial spaces, for detention purposes. Furthermore, it explicitly forbids the construction or operation of any immigration detention facility on a United States military installation . Finally, the legislation addresses health concerns within detention facilities. It requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to coordinate with local public health authorities to establish comprehensive protocols for contagious disease outbreaks. These protocols must cover treatment, care, containment, prevention of further contagion, and timely notification of the local community.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Sep 3, 2026
Introduced in House
Sep 3, 2026
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Armed Services, 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.
  • September 3, 2026
    Introduced in House


  • September 3, 2026
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Armed Services, 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.

Immigration

DHS Community Consultation Act of 2026

USA119th CongressHR-10259| House 
| Updated: 9/3/2026
Before constructing or acquiring any facility for immigration detention, the Secretary of Homeland Security must engage in extensive community consultation. This includes consulting with local government and elected officials , various stakeholders such as community and business leaders, and community members , along with local public health authorities and emergency services. The Secretary must also determine potential impacts on healthcare, emergency services, community health, local infrastructure (including water, wastewater, and electric grids), and roads. Following these assessments, a public meeting must be held, and a 60-day public comment period established, with responses to all comments received. A key provision grants local governments the authority to prevent construction; if a municipality issues an official declaration prohibiting a detention facility, DHS is barred from building it there. The bill also establishes clear prohibitions on the types of structures and locations that can be used for detention. Specifically, it bans retrofitting or renovating existing structures not originally intended to house people, such as warehouses or commercial spaces, for detention purposes. Furthermore, it explicitly forbids the construction or operation of any immigration detention facility on a United States military installation . Finally, the legislation addresses health concerns within detention facilities. It requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to coordinate with local public health authorities to establish comprehensive protocols for contagious disease outbreaks. These protocols must cover treatment, care, containment, prevention of further contagion, and timely notification of the local community.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Sep 3, 2026
Introduced in House
Sep 3, 2026
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Armed Services, 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.
  • September 3, 2026
    Introduced in House


  • September 3, 2026
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Armed Services, 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.
Veronica Escobar

Veronica Escobar

Democratic Representative

Texas

Homeland Security Committee, Judiciary Committee, Armed Services Committee

Immigration

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted