H.R. 2203 — what changed
Homeland Security Improvement Act
From Reported in House to Engrossed in House. 1 section amended and 27 removed between Reported in House and Engrossed in House.
Section 1 Establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman for Border and Immigration Enforcement Related Concerns
added “711. Ombudsman for Border and Immigration Enforcement Related Concerns
added “(a) In general—Within the Department there shall be a position of Ombudsman for Border and Immigration Enforcement Related Concerns (in this section referred to as the “Ombudsman”), who shall—
added “(1) be independent of Department agencies and officers;
added “(2) report directly to the Secretary; and
added “(3) have a background in immigration law, civil rights, and law enforcement.
added “(b) Functions—It shall be the function of the Ombudsman to—
added “(1) in coordination with the Inspector General of the Department, establish an independent, neutral, accessible, confidential, and standardized process to assist individuals (including aliens (as such term is defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)) in resolving complaints with respect to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a subcontractor, or a cooperating entity, which process shall include a publicly accessible website through which a complainant can check on the status of such a complaint;
added “(2) identify and thereafter review, examine, and make recommendations to the Secretary to address chronic issues identified by the Ombudsman in carrying out the function described in paragraph (1);
added “(3) establish a Border Oversight Panel in accordance with subsection (f); and
added “(4) review compliance with departmental policies and standards of care for custody of aliens by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including any violations of applicable policy or standards of care involving force-feeding.
added “(c) Confidentiality—The existence of a complaint, including the identity of any Department employee implicated in a complaint, shall be kept confidential by the Ombudsman and, in the absence of the written consent of an individual who submits a complaint, the Ombudsman shall keep confidential the identity of and any identifying information relating to such individual. Such confidentiality requirement may not be considered as a factor of whether or not information under this subsection may be disclosed under section 552 of title 5, United Stated Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act).
added “(d) Annual reporting—Not later than June 30 of each year beginning in the year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Ombudsman shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a report that includes, for the previous year, the following:
added “(1) The number and types of complaints received under this section and for each complaint—
added “(A) the component or subcomponent, subcontractor, or cooperating entity identified;
added “(B) the demographics of the complainant; and
added “(C) a description of the resolution of the complaint or the status of the resolution process.
added “(2) Any complaint pattern that could be prevented or reduced by policy training or practice changes.
added “(3) A description of any pattern of violations of any applicable policy or standards.
added “(4) A description of each complaint received under this section with respect to which U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a subcontractor, or a cooperating entity, as applicable, has taken action to resolve, and the time between receipt and resolution of each such complaint.
added “(5) A description of complaints received under this section for which action has not been taken after one year, and the period during which each complaint has been open.
added “(6) Recommendations the Ombudsman has made under subsection (b)(2).
added “(7) Other information, as determined appropriate by the Ombudsman.
added “(e) Appointment of Border Communities Liaison
added “(1) In general—The Ombudsman, in conjunction with the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department, shall appoint a Border Community Liaison (in this subsection referred to as the “Liaison”) in each U.S. Border Patrol sector on the northern and southern borders. Each Liaison shall report to the Ombudsman.
added “(2) Purposes—Each Liaison appointed under this subsection shall—
added “(A) foster cooperation between U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and border communities;
added “(B) consult with border communities on the development of policies, directives, and programs of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement;
added “(C) receive feedback from border communities on the performance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and
added “(D) submit to the Ombudsman an annual report detailing their findings, feedback received from border communities, and recommendations to increase cooperation between U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and border communities.
added “(f) Border Oversight Panel
added “(1) Establishment—The Ombudsman shall establish a Border Oversight Panel (in this subsection referred to as the “Panel”).
added “(2) Composition
added “(A) In general—The Panel shall be composed of 30 members selected by the Ombudsman.
added “(B) Chairperson—The Ombudsman shall be the chair of the Panel.
added “(C) Expertise—Members of the Panel shall have expertise in immigration, local crime indices, civil and human rights, community relations, cross-border trade and commerce, quality of life indicators, or other experience the Ombudsman determines is appropriate, and shall include individuals who reside in or near border counties.
added “(3) Duties—The Panel shall evaluate and make recommendations regarding the border enforcement policies, strategies, and programs of the Department operating along the northern and southern borders of the United States to—
added “(A) take into consideration the impact of such policies, strategies, and programs on border communities, including protecting due process, civil and human rights of border residents and visitors, and private property rights of land owners;
added “(B) uphold domestic and international legal obligations;
added “(C) reduce the number of migrant deaths; and
added “(D) improve the safety of agents and officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
added “(g) Staffing—The Secretary shall take appropriate action to ensure the Ombudsman’s office is sufficiently staffed and resourced to carry out its duties effectively and efficiently.
added “(h) Training
added “(1) In general—The Ombudsman shall conduct a yearly evaluation of all training given to agents and officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
added “(2) Contents—Each evaluation under paragraph (1) shall include whether the training referred to in such paragraph adequately addresses the following:
added “(A) Best practices in community policing, cultural awareness, and carrying out enforcement actions near sensitive locations, such as places of worship or religious ceremony, school or education-related places or events, courthouses or other civic buildings providing services accessible to the public, hospitals, medical treatment or health care facilities, public demonstrations, and attorney’s offices (including a public defender or legal aid offices).
added “(B) Policies for operating in locations where there are limitations on cooperation by local law enforcement.
added “(C) Interaction with vulnerable populations, including instruction on screening, identifying, and responding to vulnerable populations, such as children, victims of human trafficking, and the acutely ill.
added “(D) Standards of professional and ethical conduct, including the following:
added “(i) Lawful use of force, de-escalation tactics, and alternatives to the use of force.
added “(ii) Complying with chain of command and lawful orders.
added “(iii) Conduct and ethical behavior toward the public in a civil and professional manner.
added “(iv) Civil rights and legal protections for nationals of the United States and aliens.
added “(v) Non-biased questioning.
added “(vi) Sensitivity towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals.
added “(vii) Permissible and impermissible social media activity.
added “(viii) Sexual and other harassment and assault, including an assessment of whether adequate policies exist to resolve complaints.
added “(E) Protecting the civil, constitutional, human, and privacy rights of individuals, with special emphasis on the scope of enforcement authority, including chain of evidence practices and document seizure, and use of force policies available to agents and officers.
added “(F) Maintaining and updated understanding of Federal legal rulings, court decisions, and Department policies and procedures.
added “(G) The scope of agents’ and officers’ authority to conduct immigration enforcement activities, including interviews, interrogations, stops, searches, arrests, and detentions, in addition to identifying and detecting fraudulent documents.
added “(3) Recommendations—Not later than 90 days after conducting each evaluation under paragraph (1), the Ombudsman shall develop, and submit to the Secretary, recommendations regarding any additional training.
added “(4) Feedback—Not later than 180 days after receiving recommendations transmitted by the Ombudsman, the Secretary shall respond publicly and in writing with feedback on each of the recommendations, an action plan to implement any of such recommendations with which the Secretary concurs, and a justification for why any of such recommendations have been rejected.
added “(i) Electronic tracking
added “(1) In general—The Ombudsman, in coordination with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Department of Health and Human Services, shall develop recommendations for the establishment of an electronic tracking number system on a single interface, which shall be used to track the location of a child who has been separated from a parent, legal guardian, or other relative of such child, and which shall be accessible to agents and officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
added “(2) Tracking number—The recommendations developed under this subsection shall consider how a tracking number can be assigned to a child who has been separated from a parent, legal guardian, or other relative of such child that—
added “(A) is transferrable;
added “(B) may be shared easily on the electronic tracking system described in this subsection by agents and officers of—
added “(i) U.S. Customs and Border Protection;
added “(ii) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and
added “(iii) the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Department of Health and Human Services; and
added “(C) is interoperable with the electronic location records of a parent, legal guardian, or other relative of such child.
added “(j) Body-worn cameras
added “(1) Requirement—Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Ombudsman, in coordination with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and labor organizations representing agents and officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a plan for requiring, not later than one year after such date of enactment, the use of body-worn cameras by U.S. Border Patrol agents and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers whenever such agents and officers are engaged in border security or immigration enforcement activities.
added “(2) Elements—The plan required under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
added “(A) Benchmarks for implementation of the use of body-worn cameras within U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
added “(B) Policies, procedures, and training modules for the use of body-worn cameras by agents and officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including training modules relating to the appropriate use of such cameras and adverse action for non-compliance.
added “(C) Mechanisms to ensure compliance with body-worn camera policies and procedures.
added “(3) Considerations—The plan required under paragraph (1) shall be informed by—
added “(A) existing State and local policies requiring the use of body-worn cameras; and
added “(B) principles regarding body-worn cameras published by major civil and human rights organizations.”
Sec. 101 Establishment of commission
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removed
There is established in the legislative branch the National Commission to Investigate the Treatment of Migrant Families and Children By the Trump Administration (in this Act referred to as the “Commission”).
Sec. 102 Purposes
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The purposes of the Commission are to—
Sec. 103 Composition of the Commission; qualifications
removedSec. 104 Functions of commission
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The functions of the Commission are to—
Sec. 105 Powers of commission
removedSec. 106 Public meetings and release of public version of reports
removedSec. 107 Staff of commission
removedSec. 108 Compensation and travel expenses
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Each member of the Commission may be compensated at not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day during which that member is engaged in the actual performance of the duties of the Commission.
Sec. 109 Security clearances for commission members and staff
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The appropriate Federal agencies or departments shall cooperate with the Commission in expeditiously providing to the Commission members and staff appropriate security clearances to the extent possible pursuant to existing procedures and requirements, except that no person shall be provided with access to classified information under this title without the appropriate security clearances.
Sec. 110 Reports of commission; termination
removedSec. 111 Funding
removedSec. 201 Establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman for Border and Immigration Related Concerns
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removed
“437. Establishment of the Office of Ombudsman for Border and Immigration Related Concerns
removed
“(a) In general—The Secretary shall appoint an Ombudsman for Border and Immigration Related Concerns (hereinafter referred to as the “Ombudsman”), who shall—
removed
“(1) be independent of Department agencies and officers;
removed
“(2) report directly to the Secretary; and
removed
“(3) have a background in immigration, civil rights, and law enforcement.
removed
“(b) Functions—The functions of the Ombudsman shall be to—
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“(1) establish an independent, neutral, and confidential process to receive, investigate, resolve, and provide redress, including referral for investigation to the Office of the Inspector General, referral to the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to investigate complaints and information indicating possible abuses of civil rights or civil liberties, referral to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for immigration relief, or any other action determined appropriate, in cases in which Department employees, or subcontracted or cooperating entity personnel, are alleged to have engaged in misconduct or violated the rights of individuals, associations, or employers;
removed
“(2) establish an accessible and standardized complaint process regarding complaints against any employee of U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or any subcontracted or cooperating entity personnel, for violations of law or violations of standards of professional conduct pertaining to interaction with a United States citizen or non-United States citizen in the course of carrying out any duty under law; and
removed
“(3) identify and thereafter review, examine, and make recommendations to the Secretary or designee to address chronic concerns in border security and enforcement activities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
removed
“(c) Annual report—On an annual basis, starting one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a report prepared by the Ombudsman that provides information regarding the Office of the Ombudsman’s activities for the prior year, including information relating to the following:
removed
“(1) The number of complaints received in the period, with information on each complaint including whether it is against any employee of U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or any subcontracted or cooperating entity personnel, for violations of law or violations of standards of professional conduct pertaining to interaction with a United States citizen or non-United States citizen in the course of carrying out any duty under law, when and where the incident that gave rise to the complaint occurred, including, where possible, identification of the port of entry, U.S. Border Patrol station, or detention facility where the alleged incident occurred.
removed
“(2) The number of investigations commenced or carried out in the period, with information on each investigation including whether it involves any employee of U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or any subcontracted or cooperating entity personnel, for violations of law or violations of standards of professional conduct pertaining to interaction with a United States citizen or non-United States citizen in the course of carrying out any duty under law.
removed
“(3) The number of complaints resolved in the period, with information on how each complaint was resolved, including for those complaints that were—
removed
“(A) referred for investigation to the Office of the Inspector General;
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“(B) referred to the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties;
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“(C) referred to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for immigration relief; and
removed
“(D) resolved in some other manner.
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“(4) Findings and recommendations for the period that address chronic concerns in border security and enforcement activities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including the impact of such activities on border communities and the civil rights, property rights, privacy rights, and civil liberties of residents of such communities.
removed
“(5) Any actions taken by the Department to implement recommendations that address chronic concerns in border security and enforcement activities.
removed
“(d) Publication—Not later than 30 days after receiving the annual report required pursuant to subsection (c), the Secretary shall publish the annual report on the website of the Department and in the Federal Register, together with any feedback from the Secretary regarding the report.
removed
“(e) Confidentiality—In the absence of the written consent of an individual who submits a complaint, the Ombudsman shall keep confidential the identity of and any identifying information relating to that individual.”
Sec. 202 Establishment of border community stakeholder advisory committee
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“438. Establishment of border community stakeholder advisory committee
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“(a) Establishment—The Secretary shall establish within the Department a border community stakeholders advisory committee pursuant to section 871 of this Act.
removed
“(b) Duties
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“(1) In general—The Secretary shall consult with the Advisory Committee, as appropriate, on border security and immigration enforcement matters, including on the development, refinement, and implementation of policies, protocols, programs, and rulemaking pertaining to border security and immigration enforcement that may impact border communities.
removed
“(2) Recommendations—The Advisory Committee shall develop, at the request of the Secretary, recommendations regarding policies, protocols, programs and rulemaking pertaining to border security and immigration enforcement that may impact border communities.
removed
“(3) Periodic reports—The Advisory Committee shall periodically submit to the Secretary—
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“(A) reports on matters identified by the Secretary; and
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“(B) reports on other matters identified by a majority of the members of the Advisory Committee.
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“(4) Annual report—The Advisory Committee shall submit to the Secretary an annual report providing information on the activities, findings, and recommendations of the Advisory Committee, including its subcommittees, for the preceding year. Not later than six months after the date on which the Secretary receives the annual report, the Secretary shall publish a public version describing the Advisory Committee’s activities and such related matters as would be informative to the public, consistent with section 552(b) of title 5, United States Code.
removed
“(5) Feedback—Not later than 90 days after receiving recommendations transmitted by the Advisory Committee under paragraph (4), the Secretary shall respond in writing to the Advisory Committee with feedback on each of the recommendations, an action plan to implement any of the recommendations with which the Secretary concurs, and a justification for why any of the recommendations have been rejected.
removed
“(6) Congressional notification—Not later than 30 days after providing written feedback to the Advisory Committee under paragraph (5), the Secretary shall notify the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate on such feedback, and provide a briefing upon request.
removed
“(7) Report to Congress—Prior to briefing the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate under paragraph (6), the Secretary shall submit to such committees a report containing information relating to the recommendations transmitted by the Advisory Committee in accordance with paragraph (4).
removed
“(c) Membership
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“(1) Appointment
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“(A) In general—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall appoint the members of the Advisory Committee.
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“(B) Composition—The membership of the Advisory Committee shall consist of a border community stakeholder from each of the nine U.S. Border Patrol sectors and three individuals with significant expertise and experience in immigration law, civil rights, and civil liberties, particularly as relates to interests of residents of border communities.
removed
“(2) Term of office
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“(A) Terms—The term of each member of the Advisory Committee shall be two years. A member of the Advisory Committee may be reappointed.
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“(B) Removal—The Secretary may review the participation of a member of the Advisory Committee and remove such member for cause at any time.
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“(3) Prohibition on compensation—The members of the Advisory Committee shall not receive pay, allowances, or benefits from the Government by reason of their service on the Advisory Committee.
removed
“(4) Meetings
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“(A) In general—The Secretary shall require the Advisory Committee to meet at least semiannually and may convene additional meetings as necessary.
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“(B) Public meetings—At least one of the meetings described in subparagraph (A) shall be within a Border Patrol sector and open to the public.
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“(C) Attendance—The Advisory Committee shall maintain a record of the persons present at each meeting.
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“(5) Member access to sensitive security information—Not later than 60 days after the date of a member’s appointment, the Secretary shall determine if there is cause for the member to be restricted from possessing sensitive security information. Without such cause, and upon the member voluntarily signing a non-disclosure agreement, the member may be granted access to sensitive security information that is relevant to the member’s advisory duties. The member shall protect the sensitive security information in accordance with part 1520 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
removed
“(6) Chairperson—A stakeholder representative on the Advisory Committee who is elected by the appointed membership of the Advisory Committee shall chair the Advisory Committee.
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“(d) Nonapplicability of FACA—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Advisory Committee and its subcommittees.
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“(e) Definitions—In this section:
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“(1) Advisory committee—The term “Advisory Committee” means the border community stakeholder advisory committee established under subsection (a).
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“(2) Border community stakeholder—The term “border community stakeholder” means individuals who have ownership interests or reside in the land borders of the United States and who have not publicly taken positions on the Trump Administration’s border security and immigration enforcement actions, including—
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“(A) a landowner within 10 miles of a land border of the United States;
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“(B) a business leader in a company operating within 10 miles of a land border of the United States;
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“(C) a local official from a community on a land border of the United States; and
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“(D) a representative of Indian tribes on a land border of the United States.”
Sec. 203 Training and continuing education
removedSec. 204 Body-worn cameras
removedSec. 205 Limitation on the separation of families
removedSec. 206 Prohibition on exceeding 72 hours in short-term detention
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removed
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that each individual apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection is released, paroled, or transferred to an appropriate long-term facility operated by a non-profit organization, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or the Department of Health and Human Services not later than 72 hours after such apprehension absent an exigent circumstance that is beyond the Secretary’s control, such as a natural disaster. The Secretary shall inform the Committees on Homeland Security and the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and Committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Judiciary of the Senate within three days of the Secretary determining such an exigent circumstance exists, and provide information on when the impacted individuals will be so released, paroled, or transferred.
Sec. 207 Electronic tracking
removedSec. 208 Preventing implementation of anti-asylum access interim final rule; Termination of remain in Mexico protocol and metering policy
removedSec. 209 Surge support for care of families and unaccompanied children
removedSec. 210 Port of entry temporary duty assignments
removedSec. 211 Prohibition on physical restraints for women who are pregnant or post-delivery
removedSec. 301 GAO report on the extent of CBP activities, operations, and claimed authority
removed
removed
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a report that assesses the following issues:
Sec. 302 Migrant deaths reporting
removedSec. 303 Review of the use of force
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Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall examine the extent to which U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have trained their workforces regarding use of force policies, including the following (and any recommendations related to the following):