A Democratic bill with 20 Democratic cosponsors · See all 20 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the DHS Release Transparency Act. It requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to give detained individuals the option to designate a point of contact when taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Before releasing a detained individual, the Secretary must attempt to notify this designated point of contact at least twice. This notification rule does not apply to individuals held at a port of entry for less than 12 hours. The bill also requires the Secretary to provide translation and interpretation services to the detainee and the point of contact. Finally, the bill states that no information collected under this section may be used for enforcement purposes.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +5
Would immigrants be better off under this?
The bill directly aids detained immigrants by ensuring their chosen points of contact are notified of their release and providing language services.
- Scored +4
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The legislation explicitly increases transparency by requiring DHS to notify designated contacts upon a detainee's release.
- Scored +3
Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this?
Hispanic individuals and communities disproportionately affected by immigration enforcement will benefit from better release notifications.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Designation of a Point of Contact: Under Section 2(a), a detained individual is given the option to designate a point of contact to receive updates and provide their name and contact information. This is positive because it helps ensure that families and representatives can stay informed about a detainee.
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Mandatory Notifications: Under Section 2(b), the Secretary of Homeland Security must attempt to notify the designated point of contact at least twice prior to the release of the individual, excluding those held at a port of entry for less than 12 hours. This is positive because it holds the agency accountable for communicating releases to the chosen contacts.
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Language Services: Under Section 2(c), the Secretary must provide translation and interpretation services in a language chosen by the detainee and the point of contact. This is positive because it removes language barriers during the designation and notification process.
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Privacy and Protection: Under Section 2(d), no information collected under this section may be used for enforcement purposes. This is positive because it protects the privacy of the individuals involved by ensuring their contact details cannot be weaponized against them.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Exclusion for Short-Term Detainees: Under Section 2(b)(1), individuals who have only been held at a port of entry for less than 12 hours are excluded from the mandatory notification requirement. This could be considered negative because contacts of these individuals will not receive release notifications.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill directly aids detained immigrants by ensuring their chosen points of contact are notified of their release and providing language services. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Hispanic individuals and communities disproportionately affected by immigration enforcement will benefit from better release notifications. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Asian immigrants and families will benefit from required translation and interpretation services in their chosen languages. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Low-income immigrant families often benefit from improved communication and language access provisions during detention.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The legislation explicitly increases transparency by requiring DHS to notify designated contacts upon a detainee's release. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — It improves procedural interactions for detainees by ensuring access to translation services and communication with contacts. Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The legislation protects personal contact details from being utilized for separate enforcement actions. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill imposes new notification and translation mandates on the Department of Homeland Security.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make it easier for immigrants already here to become citizens? — The bill enhances transparency and communication for detained individuals and their families during the immigration process.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill includes restrictions protecting collected contact information from being used for enforcement purposes.
- 9/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/7/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
- 7/6/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/9/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 6/8/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 6/4/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 6/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/2/2026
- 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.
- 8 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Nanette BarragánDemocrat · California
Judy ChuDemocrat · California
Gilbert CisnerosDemocrat · California
Troy CarterDemocrat · Louisiana
Adriano EspaillatDemocrat · New York
Daniel GoldmanDemocrat · New York
Julie JohnsonDemocrat · Texas
Raja KrishnamoorthiDemocrat · Illinois
Stephen LynchDemocrat · Massachusetts
George LatimerDemocrat · New York
Grace MengDemocrat · New York
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
Jerrold NadlerDemocrat · New York
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Nellie PouDemocrat · New Jersey
Deborah RossDemocrat · North Carolina
Jamie RaskinDemocrat · Maryland
Bennie ThompsonDemocrat · Mississippi
Bonnie Watson ColemanDemocrat · New Jersey
James WalkinshawDemocrat · Virginia