A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
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
The "Governors' Right to Inspect Act of 2026" allows state Governors and their designated officials to conduct health and safety inspections of immigration detention facilities in their states. This includes facilities run by ICE, private contractors, or local governments. The bill creates a process for Governors to report their findings to Congress and requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to respond to those reports. It specifically prohibits these inspections from interfering with federal immigration enforcement or the release of detainees.
Yes· 3 of 18
- Scored +7
Would immigrants be better off under this?
Increases accountability and transparency regarding the living conditions of detained immigrants.
- Scored +7
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
Requires reports on detention conditions and DHS responses to be made public on a government website.
- Scored +6
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
Explicitly authorizes governors to conduct health and safety inspections within their state borders.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this give the federal government more power?
Shifts some oversight authority and transparency requirements from the federal government to state governors.
- Scored -2
Would business owners be better off under this?
Increases oversight and potential liability/cost for private detention contractors.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Living Conditions: By authorizing inspections of sanitation, medical care, food quality, water access, and sleeping conditions, the bill aims to address urgent concerns regarding the humane treatment of detainees (Section 3).
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Increased Accountability: Governors can submit reports on deficiencies and recommendations for corrective action to Congress, and the Secretary of Homeland Security must provide a written response regarding any actions taken (Section 7).
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Greater Transparency: Reports from Governors and the responses from the Secretary of Homeland Security must be made available to the public on the Secretary's website (Section 7(d)).
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Direct Oversight: The bill allows authorized officials to speak privately with detainees on a voluntary basis to document health and safety conditions (Section 4(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No Legal Recourse for Detainees: The bill explicitly states that it does not create a private right of action for any detained individual, meaning detainees cannot sue based on this Act (Section 8(b)).
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? — Increases accountability and transparency regarding the living conditions of detained immigrants. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Directly impacts a group heavily represented in immigration detention by improving facility oversight. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Provides oversight for facilities that may house minority populations. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Provides oversight for facilities that may house minority populations. Would children be better off under this? — Potentially improves conditions for children held in immigration detention. Would LGBTQ people be better off under this? — Improves potential health and safety conditions for LGBTQ individuals in detention. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Detainees are often from low-income backgrounds; improved conditions benefit this group. Would men be better off under this? — Improves potential health and safety conditions for men in detention. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Potentially improves conditions for adults in detention. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Provides oversight for facilities that may house minority populations. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Ensures health and safety standards are monitored for vulnerable populations. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Potentially improves conditions for elderly individuals in detention. Would women be better off under this? — Improves potential health and safety conditions for women in detention. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Potentially improves conditions for young adults in detention. Would business owners be better off under this? — Increases oversight and potential liability/cost for private detention contractors.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires reports on detention conditions and DHS responses to be made public on a government website. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Explicitly authorizes governors to conduct health and safety inspections within their state borders. Does this give the federal government more power? — Shifts some oversight authority and transparency requirements from the federal government to state governors.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Increases oversight of medical care and sanitation in immigration detention facilities.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Provides oversight for populations often disproportionately affected by immigration detention.
- 7/7/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
- 6/11/2026
- 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.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Bonnie Watson ColemanDemocrat · New Jersey