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HR 10259
Introduced Re-checks Congress.gov for new actions and updates the bill's status, and fills in any sponsors, committees, or related bills that are missing. It does not re-pull sponsors/cosponsors/committees/related — those rarely change — and it skips all work if nothing has changed upstream, so it's cheap to click.

DHS Community Consultation Act of 2026

To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to take certain actions before constructing a facility for purposes of detaining any person under the immigration laws, and for other purposes.

Introduced Sep 3, 2026

Latest action (Sep 3, 2026) Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Referred to
Armed Services Committee Homeland Security Committee Judiciary Committee
Policy area
Immigration
Issues
Immigration

Summary
  • Requires DHS to consult with local government, community leaders, utility companies, public health authorities, and emergency services before constructing immigration detention facilities.
  • Requires DHS to assess the facility's impacts on healthcare, emergency services, community health, water and wastewater infrastructure, power grids, and roads.
  • Requires DHS to hold a public meeting with representatives from DHS, Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and to establish a 60-day public comment period and respond to comments.
  • Prohibits DHS from constructing detention facilities in municipalities that issue ordinances prohibiting them.
  • Prohibits DHS from retrofitting or converting existing structures not designed for housing (such as warehouses or storage facilities) into detention facilities.
  • Prohibits DHS from constructing or operating immigration detention facilities on military installations.

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.

Sponsor (1)

Money behind the sponsor

Top reported contributors to Veronica Escobar’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.

  • Employer not reported $13,980
  • INVARIANT $10,100
  • HUNT COMPANIES INC. $9,900
  • TRI-STATE COSMETOLOGY INSTITUTE $9,100
  • WESTSTAR BANK $8,850

Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Veronica Escobar → · Outside spending →

Actions (2)
  1. Sep 3, 2026 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. · house
  2. Sep 3, 2026 Introduced in House

Text versions (1)
  • Introduced in House · Sep 3, 2026

Only one text version is on file, so there’s no earlier version to compare against yet.

Full text

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 3, 2026

Ms. Escobar introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to take certain actions before constructing a facility for purposes of detaining any person under the immigration laws, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “DHS Community Consultation Act of 2026”.

SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSTRUCTING IMMIGRATION DETENTION FACILITIES.

(a) In General.—Before beginning construction or entering into any contract, including for purchase or lease of an existing facility, for such construction on any facility for purposes of detaining any person under the immigration laws (as such term is defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall—

(1) consult with—

(A) local government and elected officials;

(B) stakeholders, including—

(i) representatives from any local utility companies;

(ii) community leaders;

(iii) business leaders; and

(iv) advocates;

(C) community members;

(D) local public health authorities; and

(E) emergency response services;

(2) determine any impacts such facility may have on—

(A) healthcare services;

(B) emergency services;

(C) community health;

(D) local water and wastewater infrastructure, including impacts on water pressure and supply;

(E) local electric power grids; and

(F) roads;

(3) hold a public meeting about such construction to provide community members with an opportunity to meet with representatives from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement;

(4) establish a 60-day period for public comment and review; and

(5) respond to any such comments received during such period.

(b) Local Government.—If a local government of a municipality issues an ordinance, proclamation, moratorium, or any other official declaration prohibiting the construction of any facility for purposes of detaining any person under the immigration laws, the Secretary of Homeland Security may not construct such a facility in such municipality.

(c) Contagious Disease Protocols.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall coordinate with local public health authorities to establish, in the event of a contagious disease outbreak within a facility detaining any person under the immigration laws, protocols for—

(1) treatment;

(2) care;

(3) containment;

(4) prevention of further contagion; and

(5) notifying the local community.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITIONS ON CONSTRUCTING IMMIGRATION DETENTION FACILITIES.

(a) Existing Structures.—The Secretary of Homeland Security may not retrofit, renovate, or reconstruct an existing structure for purposes of detaining any person under the immigration laws (as such term is defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)) if such existing structure was not intended to house people, including a storage facility, warehouse, or commercial space.

(b) Military Installations.—The Secretary of Homeland Security may not construct or operate any facility for purposes of detaining any person under the immigration laws on a United States military installation (as defined in section 2801 of title 10, United States Code). <all>

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