S.Amdt. 4282

This amendment, proposed by Mr. Blumenthal and Ms. Hirono, aims to add Section 239 to the bill. The purpose is to limit where immigration enforcement actions can take place by restricting them at or near sensitive locations.

Key Changes and Additions:

• Restrictions on Enforcement: It prohibits immigration enforcement actions (such as arrests, searches, or interviews) from occurring or being focused within 1,000 feet of a sensitive location, unless there are exigent circumstances (like imminent risk of death or threats to national security).

• Definition of Sensitive Locations: It provides a broad list of protected areas, including:

  • Medical and mental healthcare facilities.
  • Schools, early childhood education programs, and school buses.
  • Places of worship and religious ceremonies.
  • Courthouses, congressional district offices, and Social Security offices.
  • Public libraries and polling places.
  • Homeless shelters, food banks, and disaster relief sites.

• Accountability and Oversight:

  • Supervision: If an officer is unsure if exigent circumstances exist, they must stop the action and consult a supervisor in real time.
  • Reporting: The Secretary of Homeland Security must report any enforcement action at a sensitive location to the Office of the Inspector General and the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties within 30 days.
  • Congressional Oversight: Annual reports must be submitted to specific House and Senate committees detailing these actions and any related complaints.
  • Training: Designated officials must ensure employees receive annual training on these requirements.

• Consequences for Violations: If an enforcement action violates these rules, any information gathered cannot be used as evidence in removal proceedings, and the affected individual may file to terminate the proceeding.