A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
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 designated health or safety officials to conduct health and safety inspections of immigration detention facilities in their states. These officials can access all areas of the facility, interview detainees, and review health and safety records. The act allows for inspections to happen without prior notice. Governors can report their findings to Congress and the Secretary of Homeland Security. The Secretary must then respond with a plan for corrective actions. This act does not allow state officials to interfere with immigration enforcement or the release of detainees.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +8
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
Requires public posting of inspection reports and DHS corrective action plans.
- Scored +8
Would immigrants be better off under this?
Aims to improve living conditions, sanitation, and medical care for detained individuals.
- Scored +7
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
Grants Governors the right to inspect federal facilities within their state borders.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this give the federal government more power?
Increases state oversight authority over federal immigration detention facilities.
- Scored -2
Would business owners be better off under this?
Increases oversight and potential for corrective actions for private detention contractors.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Improved Living Conditions: By allowing authorized oversight officials to document issues like food quality, medical care access, sanitation, and sleeping conditions, the act aims to ensure humane treatment of detained individuals (Section 3).
-
Increased Accountability: The requirement for the Secretary to respond to reports with a plan for corrective actions ensures that observed deficiencies are addressed (Section 7(c)).
-
Transparency: Making reports and the Secretary's responses publicly available on a website allows the public to see the conditions within these facilities (Section 7(d)).
-
Direct Oversight: The bill allows for independent, on-the-ground oversight to fill gaps in existing Federal inspection programs (Section 2(a)(6)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Security Risks: The bill acknowledges that certain information or photography could potentially compromise the identity or safety of undercover personnel or pose security risks within the facility (Section 6(b)(1)).
-
Limited Scope: Because authorized oversight officials are prohibited from directing or halting enforcement actions or ordering the release of individuals, they cannot directly intervene in an individual's legal custody status (Section 4(c)).
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.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires public posting of inspection reports and DHS corrective action plans. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Grants Governors the right to inspect federal facilities within their state borders. Does this give the federal government more power? — Increases state oversight authority over federal immigration detention facilities.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would immigrants be better off under this? — Aims to improve living conditions, sanitation, and medical care for detained individuals. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Provides oversight for facilities that disproportionately house Hispanic and other non-white immigrants. Would business owners be better off under this? — Increases oversight and potential for corrective actions for private detention contractors.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Aims to improve medical care access and health conditions for individuals in immigration detention.
- 6/15/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Introduced in Senate