Bill > HR5941

This bill aims to restore free telephone and communication services for individuals in immigration detention, providing them with essential means to stay connected with family and legal counsel. Specifically, the bill mandates that detainees receive at least one 10-minute communication with an immediate family member within 5 hours of being taken into custody, along with 200 free outgoing communication minutes per month. The legislation also ensures unlimited free minutes for communications with legal representatives, immigration courts, government offices, and human rights organizations. Detention facilities must establish consistent communication protocols that do not discourage or retaliate against detainees' communication efforts, and they are prohibited from restricting communication with legal representatives or counting incoming calls toward the free minute allocation. The bill includes important confidentiality provisions, stating that communications with certain specified entities must be private and cannot be monitored without a lawful court-issued warrant. This legislation stems from a previous COVID-19 era program that provided free telephone minutes to detainees, which was discontinued in 2024 due to funding issues. The bill seeks to reinstate and formalize such communication access using funds already allocated to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, recognizing the critical importance of maintaining family ties and legal support for individuals in immigration detention.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5941/all-info