HR8984
Referred to subcommittee
Respect Our Communities Act
- Federal
- House
- Introduced May 21, 2026
- Session 119
Bill Text
Version IHThis Act may be cited as the Respect Our Communities Act.
In this Act:
The term appropriate local government officials means—
the mayor, county executive, or equivalent elected official of the town, city, county or other local jurisdiction in which a new processing facility or detention center will be located; and
a majority of the town council, city council, county council, county commission, or equivalent legislative authority in which a new processing facility or detention center will be located.
The term new processing site or detention center means any facility operated by, or pursuant to a contract with, U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including any facility designed under the Detention Reengineering Initiative, that, beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, will be used to temporarily hold persons pending the resolution or completion of immigration removal operations or processes.
The Department of Homeland Security or any other Federal agency may not initiate the construction, acquisition, renovation, or operation of, or otherwise acquire an interest in real property to be used as, a new processing site or detention center for U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement until—
the relevant Federal agency issues a public notice in the Federal Register that—
is open for public comments for a period lasting at least 30 days;
describes the scope of the construction, acquisition, renovation, or operation;
includes information regarding such agency's due diligence process, which shall explain how such agency will comply with—
Federal guidance and standards related to immigration detention; and
applicable environmental regulations;
includes any other information or documentation relevant to such new processing site or detention center; and
includes an economic impact analysis and an engineering review that addresses the site or center's waste exportation, water usage, and electrical demand;
after the conclusion of the public comment period, the head of the relevant Federal agency—
considers and responds to significant comments received in accordance with subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code; and
enters into a signed, written agreement with appropriate local government officials and the Governor of the State in which such processing site or detention center will be located that authorizes such construction, acquisition, renovation, or operation, as applicable; and
at least 30 days has elapsed since the head of the relevant Federal agency submitted a report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives regarding such planned construction, acquisition, renovation, or operation that includes a fully executed copy of the agreement described in paragraph (2).
In this Act:
The term appropriate local government officials means—
the mayor, county executive, or equivalent elected official of the town, city, county or other local jurisdiction in which a new processing facility or detention center will be located; and
a majority of the town council, city council, county council, county commission, or equivalent legislative authority in which a new processing facility or detention center will be located.
The term new processing site or detention center means any facility operated by, or pursuant to a contract with, U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including any facility designed under the Detention Reengineering Initiative, that, beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, will be used to temporarily hold persons pending the resolution or completion of immigration removal operations or processes.
The Department of Homeland Security or any other Federal agency may not initiate the construction, acquisition, renovation, or operation of, or otherwise acquire an interest in real property to be used as, a new processing site or detention center for U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement until—
the relevant Federal agency issues a public notice in the Federal Register that—
is open for public comments for a period lasting at least 30 days;
describes the scope of the construction, acquisition, renovation, or operation;
includes information regarding such agency's due diligence process, which shall explain how such agency will comply with—
Federal guidance and standards related to immigration detention; and
applicable environmental regulations;
includes any other information or documentation relevant to such new processing site or detention center; and
includes an economic impact analysis and an engineering review that addresses the site or center's waste exportation, water usage, and electrical demand;
after the conclusion of the public comment period, the head of the relevant Federal agency—
considers and responds to significant comments received in accordance with subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code; and
enters into a signed, written agreement with appropriate local government officials and the Governor of the State in which such processing site or detention center will be located that authorizes such construction, acquisition, renovation, or operation, as applicable; and
at least 30 days has elapsed since the head of the relevant Federal agency submitted a report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives regarding such planned construction, acquisition, renovation, or operation that includes a fully executed copy of the agreement described in paragraph (2).
Legislative Timeline
5 actions-
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability.
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Introduced in House
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Introduced in House
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Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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.
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Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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.