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H.R. 4703: To establish a system to track, record, and report all instances in which a United States citizen or individual lawfully admitted for permanent resident was, for the purpose of immigration enforcement, detained or removed by the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

The bill aims to create a system for tracking and reporting instances where United States citizens or lawful permanent residents are detained or removed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for immigration enforcement purposes. Here are the key aspects of the bill, broken down for clarity:

Establishment of Tracking System

The Secretary of Homeland Security is required to set up a standardized system within 180 days of the bill's enactment. This system will track, record, and report to Congress, at least quarterly, all instances where:

A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) has been detained for at least 24 hours by DHS.
An individual whose LPR status has been revoked within the last 30 days has been detained or removed by DHS.

Inclusion of Additional Instances

The tracking system must also capture instances where a U.S. citizen or LPR is apprehended and transferred to DHS custody by other federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies. Important specifics include:

The system must collect information about cases where individuals under 18 years old were removed from the U.S. alongside a parent or guardian who lacked lawful status.

Proof of Citizenship Process

The bill mandates that, within 180 days, the Secretary of Homeland Security and Secretary of State develop a process for detainees to prove their U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency. This process allows individuals who have been detained, apprehended, or removed to submit evidence of their status to DHS.

Definitions

The bill includes definitions for important terms used:

Appropriate Committees of Congress: Specific committees in both the House and Senate, such as the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Judiciary, will oversee the reporting of the system's findings.
Immigration Laws: These are defined according to existing law as detailed in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Removed: This term refers to individuals who have been repatriated or transported out of the U.S.

Reporting Requiremens

The findings and data compiled by the tracking system will be reported to Congress, ensuring regular oversight and accountability of DHS’s immigration enforcement activities.

Implications of the Bill

This legislation aims to enhance transparency and provide a systematic approach to documenting the interactions between citizens, lawful residents, and immigration enforcement. The expectation is that these actions will provide more clarity regarding the impact of immigration enforcement on individuals who are legally in the U.S.