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HR 8557

Short-Term Holding Facility Standards Restoration Act.

119th Congress Introduced by Yassamin Ansari and 2 co-sponsors

Restores a 12-hour cap on ICE holding facilities for short-term custody, with humane conditions, required documentation, and annual DHS oversight.

Introduced in House
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 8557

Summary of H.R. 8557 — Short-Term Holding Facility Standards Restoration Act

What this bill aims to do

  • Prohibits long-term custody in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holding facilities, restoring a 12-hour maximum for “short-term custody” with limited exceptions.
  • Establishes standards to ensure humane conditions, documentation, and oversight of holding facilities to prevent extended detention.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section 2 – Findings

    • Reiterates that ICE holding facilities are designed for short-term custody and processing.
    • Historically defined “short-term” as not exceeding 12 hours, absent exceptional circumstances.
    • Argues that prolonged detention undermines detainee welfare and facility intent.
    • States that restoring a 12-hour standard aligns with prior agency guidance.

  • Section 3 – Limitation on duration of detention

    • General rule: absent exceptional circumstances, ICE holding facilities may be used only for short-term custody.
    • Exceptional circumstances (temporary and unforeseen) include:
    • Medical emergencies
    • Natural disasters or facility disruptions
    • Transportation or transfer delays beyond DHS control
    • Other exigent operational conditions as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security

  • Section 4 – Humane conditions

    • Facilities must be safe, clean, have restrooms, and be free of objects that could be used as weapons.
    • Detainee protections:
    • Meals at least every 6 hours.
    • For minors, pregnant women, or breastfeeding women: immediate access to meals, snacks, milk, and juice, regardless of time in custody.
    • Detainees must have drinking water available in every room where they are held at all times.

  • Section 5 – Documentation and compliance

    • Requires contemporaneous documentation for any detention beyond short-term custody.
    • Records must be retained for 5 years for oversight, audit, and reporting purposes.

  • Section 6 – Oversight and reporting

    • Annual DHS report to Congress detailing:
    • Number of detainees held in custody beyond short-term duration
    • Length of such custody
    • Justifications for non-short-term detention
    • Corrective actions to ensure compliance
    • DHS Inspector General to conduct periodic audits of facilities and DHS records for compliance.

  • Section 7 – Definitions

    • “Holding facility” defined as any facility or room for temporary custody, processing, or transfer, not designed for long-term detention.
    • “Short-term custody” defined as detention not exceeding 12 hours, absent exceptional circumstances.

Who/what is affected

  • U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holding facilities, including detainees held there.
  • DHS (Department of Homeland Security) in implementing and enforcing the 12-hour standard.
  • DHS facilities’ management and staff, who must adhere to reporting, documentation, and humane-condition requirements.
  • Congress and the DHS Inspector General through annual reporting and audits.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced in the House on April 28, 2026, by Rep. Stanton (with Reps. Ansari and Grijalva as co-sponsors).
  • Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary for consideration.
  • No specific enactment date is provided; the bill would become law upon passage by both House and Senate and presidential signature.
  • Establishes a five-year record retention period for detention-related documentation.

Potential impacts (practical)

  • Likely reductions in the duration of non-short-term detainee holds, subject to stated exceptions.
  • Enhanced provisioning of meals, water, and other humane conditions, with particular protections for vulnerable detainees (minors and pregnant/breastfeeding women).
  • Increased transparency through annual reporting and mandatory auditing.
  • Added administrative requirements for contemporaneous documentation and five-year record retention, enabling greater oversight.

Note: This summary reflects the bill text and its stated provisions as introduced. It does not assess partisan considerations or potential implementation challenges.

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

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