Oversight of Temporary ICE Holding Cells Act

Overview

HR 9294, the Oversight of Temporary ICE Holding Cells Act, is a bill introduced in the 119th Congress with the aim of limiting the duration individuals can be detained in holding rooms by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The act is sponsored by Rep. Pettersen and has four joint sponsors (Neguse, DeGette, Crow). The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee.

Purpose and Intent

• Primary goal: Prohibit extended detention in ICE holding rooms and establish a clear 12-hour maximum for such detentions.
• Addresses concerns about the time individuals spend in temporary confinement prior to processing, appointments, release, transfer, or removal-related transportation.

Key Provisions

• Section 2(a) Prohibition on Extended Detention
  • The Secretary of Homeland Security may not detain an individual in a holding room for more than 12 hours.
• Section 2(b) Definition of “Holding Room”
  • A holding room is defined as a secure area used for temporary confinement of any detained individual before:
  • intake processing,
  • institutional appointments (including court and medical appointments),
  • release,
  • transfer to another facility,
  • or removal-related transportation.

Provisions Governing Effect and Scope

• The bill explicitly sets a maximum stay cap (12 hours) in holding rooms under DHS oversight.
• It provides a narrowly scoped definition of “holding room” to target spaces used for temporary confinement and pre-processing activities.
• The text does not specify exemptions, additional procedures for extensions, or penalties within the excerpt provided.

Affected Parties and Impacts

• Affected Entity: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, specifically ICE operations that involve detention in temporary holding rooms.
• Potential Impacts:
  • DHS would need to design operations to ensure no individual remains in a holding room beyond 12 hours.
  • Agencies may need enhanced scheduling, tracking, and alternative processing workflows to comply with the 12-hour limit.
  • Potential reductions in time spent in holding areas could affect incident response, court appearances, medical appointments, and removal-related logistics.
• Rights/Protections: The measure can be viewed as a safeguard to prevent prolonged, potentially inhumane confinement in temporary spaces.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

• Introduction: June 11, 2026.
• Referral: To the House Judiciary Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee; period to be determined by the Speaker for consideration of provisions falling within each committee’s jurisdiction.
• No floor debate or passage information is provided in the current text.

Notes

• The bill’s text provided here is limited to establishing the 12-hour cap and defining “holding room.” Additional sections (e.g., enforcement mechanisms, penalties, funding implications, or regulatory rules) are not included in the excerpt.
• As a short, targeted measure, the bill would require DHS operational changes if enacted.