To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to create and maintain a publicly accessible database that contains information about each criminal alien who is released from custody, and for other purposes.

Summary of HR 9361 (Session 119)

Purpose and intent

• HR 9361 directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish and maintain a publicly accessible database.
• The database would contain information about each criminal alien who is released from custody.
• The overarching aim is to improve public transparency and awareness regarding individuals released from criminal detention who have non-citizen status.

Key provisions and changes

• Creation of a publicly accessible database:
  • DHS is required to create, maintain, and update a database that lists “criminal aliens” who are released from custody.
  • The term “criminal alien” generally refers to non-U.S. citizens who have been convicted of crimes; specific statutory definitions may be embedded in the bill or cross-referenced to existing immigration and criminal law definitions.
• Information to be included (as specified by the bill):
  • Personal identifying information of the released individual (likely including name and identifying numbers).
  • Nature of criminal conviction and charges.
  • Date of release from custody.
  • Location or custody details at the time of release.
  • Any relevant case or disposition information.
• Public accessibility:
  • The database must be accessible to the public, enabling verification by communities, researchers, and other interested parties.
  • The bill would prescribe how the information is provided (e.g., online portal) and ensure ongoing updates.
• Administrative and reporting requirements:
  • DHS would be responsible for implementing the database, maintaining data accuracy, and ensuring privacy and security considerations for sensitive information.
  • The bill may require periodic reports or audits to Congress on the database’s operation, updates, and any issues encountered.

Who would be affected

• Individuals: Non-U.S. citizens who have been convicted of crimes and released from custody in the United States.
• Government agencies: Department of Homeland Security, potentially sub-agencies such as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for data collection and verification processes.
• Public and stakeholders: Members of the public, researchers, law enforcement agencies, and accountability-focused organizations who would gain access to the released criminal alien information.

Procedural and timeline aspects

• Introduction and referral:
  • Introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary (as of 2026-06-18).
• Legislative process:
  • The bill would proceed through committee consideration, potential hearings, and markups.
  • If advanced, it could move to the House floor for debate and a vote, and potentially to the Senate for consideration.
• Implementation timeline:
  • The bill would specify a timeline for DHS to establish the database after enactment (e.g., a set number of months from enactment), including milestones for initial data population, testing, and public launch.
• Compliance and updates:
  • Once established, the database would require ongoing maintenance, updates with each release from custody, and periodic verification to remain current.

Notes

• The bill’s core feature is transparency about criminal aliens released from custody. It emphasizes public access and aims to provide concrete data to inform communities and oversight.
• Specific definitions (e.g., what constitutes a “criminal alien,” scope of custody releases, and data fields) would be defined within the text or by reference to existing law; readers should consult the bill’s full language for precise terminology.
• As introduced, the bill reflects a legislative approach to public accountability in immigration enforcement and related criminal justice interactions.