[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8754 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8754
To require the Secretary of Homeland Security and any entity that
contracts with the Department of Homeland Security to grant access to
Members of Congress to covered facilities to carry out oversight
responsibilities, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 12, 2026
Mrs. McIver (for herself, Mr. Menendez, and Mrs. Watson Coleman)
introduced the following bill; which was 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Homeland Security and any entity that
contracts with the Department of Homeland Security to grant access to
Members of Congress to covered facilities to carry out oversight
responsibilities, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``No Delay for Immigration Oversight
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Oversight by Members of Congress is a core
constitutional responsibility necessary to ensure transparency,
accountability, and compliance with Federal law within
executive branch agencies and facilities.
(2) Since at least 2019, Federal law has prohibited the
Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement from preventing Members of Congress from
entering, for the purpose of conducting oversight, any facility
operated by or for the Department used to detain or otherwise
house aliens.
(3) Recent actions and policies by U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement have attempted to limit, delay, or
undermine the ability of Members of Congress to carry out
lawful oversight of immigration detention facilities.
(4) Congressional access to immigration detention
facilities is necessary to ensure the humane treatment of
detainees, the protection of civil rights and civil liberties,
and compliance with Federal law and detention standards.
(5) Congress has a continuing interest in reaffirming and
permanently protecting the oversight authority of Members of
Congress with respect to immigration detention facilities.
SEC. 3. MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ACCESS TO COVERED FACILITIES.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall grant Members of Congress, without
delay and without obstruction, access to covered facilities to carry
out oversight responsibilities.
(b) Application to Federal Contractors.--The Secretary of Homeland
Security shall ensure compliance with subsection (a) by any entity,
including any employee or representative of such entity, that contracts
with the Department of Homeland Security for a covered facility with
the requirements of subsection (a).
(c) Certification of Requirements.--Each entity that contracts with
the Department of Homeland Security for the use of a covered facility
shall certify, in the process of contracting with the Department, that
all personnel of such entity are trained on the requirements of
subsections (a) and (b).
(d) Penalty for Noncompliance.--If, in the determination of the
inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security, an entity
does not comply with the requirements of this Act, the Secretary of
Homeland Security shall cancel any agreement or contract between the
Department and such entity.
(e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed
to require a Member of Congress to provide prior notice of the intent
to enter a covered facility for the purpose of conducting oversight.
(f) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Congressional identification.--The term ``congressional
identification'' means any form of identification issued to
Members by the Clerk or Sergeant at Arms of the House of
Representatives (in the case of a Member of the House of
Representatives) or by the Secretary or Sergeant at Arms and
Doorkeeper of the Senate (in the case of a Senator).
(2) Covered facility.--The term ``covered facility'' means
any facility operated by or for the Department of Homeland
Security used to detain or otherwise house aliens.
(3) Member of congress.--The term ``Member of Congress''
means a Member of the House of Representatives or a Senator.
(4) Without delay.--The term ``without delay'' means the
immediate admission to a covered facility without waiting
outside such facility.
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