HR4542-119

What This Bill Does

The No Cages in the Everglades Act is a targeted funding and oversight bill. It prohibits DHS funds, including ICE funds, from being obligated or spent on planning, construction, leasing, operation, staffing, or maintenance of any immigration detention facility located within or adjacent to the Everglades ecosystem, and also bars contracts with public entities for those purposes. It then creates a broader oversight access rule for any facility used to detain or house people in DHS or ICE custody, whether federally operated or run by a state or local government: Members of Congress and designated congressional staff may conduct announced or unannounced inspections at any time, consistent with security and safety protocols, and that access cannot be waived, limited, or conditioned by contract, lease, MOU, or other agreement. No prior notice is required. The DHS Inspector General must conduct an independent inquiry and report within 90 days on the Everglades facility, including funds, the process leading to construction, and related issues.

Who Benefits and How

Everglades ecosystem advocates benefit from a funding ban on immigration detention facilities within or adjacent to the ecosystem. Immigration detainees benefit from guaranteed congressional inspection access to DHS custody facilities. Members of Congress benefit from statutory authority for announced or unannounced inspections without prior notice. DHS Inspector General investigators benefit from a clear 90-day inquiry mandate for the covered facility.

Who Bears the Burden and How

DHS and ICE cannot spend funds on planning, construction, leasing, operation, staffing, or maintenance of covered Everglades detention facilities. State or local government detention operators must allow congressional inspections and cannot rely on contracts to limit access. The DHS Inspector General must conduct the inquiry and submit the report within 90 days. Public entities seeking detention contracts near the Everglades lose access to DHS or ICE funding for those purposes.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits DHS and ICE funding for immigration detention facilities within or adjacent to the Everglades ecosystem.
• Bars contracting with public entities for planning, construction, leasing, operation, staffing, or maintenance of such facilities.
• Requires DHS detention facilities to allow announced or unannounced inspections by Members of Congress and designated staff.
• Blocks contracts, leases, MOUs, or other agreements from limiting congressional inspection access.
• Requires a DHS Inspector General inquiry and report within 90 days.