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HR 8381

Safe Check-Ins for Immigrants Act

119th Congress Introduced by George Latimer and 1 co-sponsor

Allows certain aliens released under 236(a)(2) to make periodic court appearances via video teleconference to satisfy removal-related obligations.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 8381

Overview

  • Bill: H.R. 8381
  • Session: 119 (118th Congress timeframe referenced, but introduced in 2026)
  • Title: Safe Check-Ins for Immigrants Act
  • Purpose: Amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide an option for virtual periodic appearances for aliens who are pending a removal decision, as part of release conditions or alternatives to detention.

What the bill would do

  • Create a new provision under Section 236 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226) adding a new subsection (g) titled “Virtual Periodic Appearances.”
  • Eligibility and general approach:
    • The Secretary of Homeland Security would permit certain aliens to appear virtually (via video teleconference) to satisfy a court/agency appearance requirement.
    • The appearances would count toward the periodic appearance requirement described in existing law, but conducted remotely.
  • Who is covered by the new provision:
    • Aliens described as released under subsection (a)(2) of Section 236 (which generally concerns release conditions for aliens who are in removal proceedings but are not detained pending their case).
    • These aliens must be required to appear before an immigration officer (or before a case manager under an alternatives to detention program) on a periodic basis while a decision on removal is pending.
  • Purpose of virtual appearances:
    • To satisfy the appearance requirement without in-person travel, potentially reducing detention needs, facilitating compliance with release conditions, and supporting alternatives to detention programs.

Key provisions and changes

  • Adds new subsection (g) to Section 236:
    • (1) General rule: Authorization for virtual appearances by video teleconference.
    • (2) Scope of the alien described:
    • (A) The alien is released under subsection (a)(2).
    • (B) The alien is required to appear before an immigration officer or a case manager under an alternatives to detention program as part of release conditions while a removal decision is pending.

Who would be affected

  • Immigrants who are released under Section 236(a)(2) and are subject to periodic appearances as a condition of release.
  • Immigration officers and case managers involved in monitoring and supervising individuals under release or alternatives to detention programs.
  • DHS (Department of Homeland Security) would implement and oversee the virtual appearance option, including the use of video teleconference technology.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Introduced in the House (April 20, 2026) and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
  • No specific deadlines, funding, or operational timelines are provided in the text provided. Implementation would require regulatory guidance to establish:
    • Eligibility verification processes
    • Standards for video conferencing security and reliability
    • Scheduling, record-keeping, and reporting requirements
    • Contingencies for technical outages and in-person alternatives if needed
  • The bill does not modify other aspects of Section 236 beyond adding the virtual appearance option.

Potential implications

  • Operational efficiency: Could reduce travel burdens and detention costs by enabling remote compliance checks.
  • Access and equity: May improve accessibility for individuals with transportation barriers or health concerns, but requires reliable technology and connectivity.
  • Oversight and compliance: Necessitates robust procedures to verify identity, ensure appearance integrity, and maintain auditable records of virtual appearances.
  • Legal considerations: Must align with existing due process and immigration court procedures; potential need for safeguards to prevent evasion of appearance requirements.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current law (8 U.S.C. 1226) to illustrate precisely where this change fits and how it would interact with existing alternatives to detention programs.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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