H.R. 7161: No Private Bounty Hunters for Immigration Enforcement Act

This bill, titled the "No Private Bounty Hunters for Immigration Enforcement Act," aims to limit the role of private contractors in enforcing immigration laws. Here are the main points of the bill:

Prohibition on Certain Contracts

The bill prohibits the Secretary of Homeland Security from entering into contracts or agreements with individuals or companies for certain enforcement activities related to immigration laws. Specifically, it states:

• The Secretary cannot enter into any agreements to conduct skip tracing, surveillance, or location verification aimed at enforcing immigration laws.
• Any existing contracts related to these activities must be terminated or amended to prevent such actions.
• Subcontractors hired by the main contractors are also not allowed to perform these prohibited functions.

Limitations on Federal Funding

The bill restricts the use of federal funds for private entities concerning immigration enforcement. Key points include:

• No federal funds may be used to pay private companies based on the number of individuals they locate who are subject to immigration detainers.
• There is an exception for publicly available data analytics tools that a federal contractor may use, as long as they operate under direct government supervision and do not engage in prohibited activities such as field surveillance or personal contact with the individual subject to the detainer.

Audit Requirements

Within 30 days of the bill becoming law, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security is required to conduct an audit of each contract to ensure compliance with the new limitations set forth in the bill.

Definition of Terms

For clarification, the term "skip tracing" is defined in the bill as the practice of locating individuals using various personal data such as address, employment information, or social media.

Overall Intent

The overall intent of the bill is to discourage reliance on private contractors for immigration enforcement actions that involve significant measures like surveillance and personal data tracking, focusing instead on limiting enforcement to official government personnel and methods.

Relevant Companies

• None found