H.R. 1901 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1901 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 9, 2013 Mr. Smith of Texas (for himself and Mr. Gowdy) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for extensions of detention of certain aliens ordered removed, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Keep Our Communities Safe Act of 2013. 2. Detention of dangerous aliens (a) In general Section 241(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1231(a)) is amended— (1) by striking out Attorney General each place it appears, except for the first reference in subsection (a)(4)(B)(i), and inserting Secretary of Homeland Security; (2) in paragraph (1), by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows: (B) Beginning of period The removal period begins on the latest of the following: (i) The date the order of removal becomes administratively final. (ii) If the alien is not in the custody of the Secretary on the date the order of removal becomes administratively final, the date the alien is taken into such custody. (iii) If the alien is detained or confined (except under an immigration process) on the date the order of removal becomes administratively final, the date the alien is taken into the custody of the Secretary, after the alien is released from such detention or confinement. ; (3) in paragraph (1), by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows: (C) Suspension of period (i) Extension The removal period shall be extended beyond a period of 90 days and the Secretary may, in the Secretary’s sole discretion, keep the alien in detention during such extended period if— (I) the alien fails or refuses to make all reasonable efforts to comply with the removal order, or to fully cooperate with the Secretary’s efforts to establish the alien’s identity and carry out the removal order, including making timely application in good faith for travel or other documents necessary to the alien's departure or conspires or acts to prevent the alien's removal that is subject to an order of removal; (II) a court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, or an immigration judge orders a stay of removal of an alien who is subject to an administratively final order of removal; (III) the Secretary transfers custody of the alien pursuant to law to another Federal agency or a State or local government agency in connection with the official duties of such agency; or (IV) a court or the Board of Immigration Appeals orders a remand to an immigration judge or the Board of Immigration Appeals, during the time period when the case is pending a decision on remand (with the removal period beginning anew on the date that the alien is ordered removed on remand). (ii) Renewal If the removal period has been extended under clause (C)(i), a new removal period shall be deemed to have begun on the date— (I) the alien makes all reasonable efforts to comply with the removal order, or to fully cooperate with the Secretary’s efforts to establish the alien’s identity and carry out the removal order; (II) the stay of removal is no longer in effect; or (III) the alien is returned to the custody of the Secretary. (iii) Mandatory detention for certain aliens In the case of an alien described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of section 236(c)(1), the Secretary shall keep that alien in detention during the extended period described in clause (i). (iv) Sole form of relief An alien may seek relief from detention under this subparagraph only by filing an application for a writ of habeas corpus in accordance with chapter 153 of title 28, United States Code. No alien whose period of detention is extended under this subparagraph shall have the right to seek release on bond. ; (4) in paragraph (3)— (A) by adding after If the alien does not leave or is not removed within the removal period the following: or is not detained pursuant to paragraph (6) of this subsection; and (B) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the following: (D) to obey reasonable restrictions on the alien’s conduct or activities that the Secretary prescribes for the alien, in order to prevent the alien from absconding, for the protection of the community, or for other purposes related to the enforcement of the immigration laws. ; (5) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting subparagraph (B); and (6) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following: (6) Additional rules for detention or release of certain aliens (A) Detention review process for cooperative aliens established For an alien who is not otherwise subject to mandatory detention, who has made all reasonable efforts to comply with a removal order and to cooperate fully with the Secretary of Homeland Security's efforts to establish the alien's identity and carry out the removal order, including making timely application in good faith for travel or other documents necessary to the alien's departure, and who has not conspired or acted to prevent removal, the Secretary shall establish an administrative review process to determine whether the alien should be detained or released on conditions. The Secretary shall make a determination whether to release an alien after the removal period in accordance with subparagraph (B). The determination shall include consideration of any evidence submitted by the alien, and may include consideration of any other evidence, including any information or assistance provided by the Secretary of State or other Federal official and any other information available to the Secretary of Homeland Security pertaining to the ability to remove the alien. (B) Authority to detain beyond removal period (i) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security, in the exercise of the Secretary’s sole discretion, may continue to detain an alien for 90 days beyond the removal period (including any extension of the removal period as provided in paragraph (1)(C)). An alien whose detention is extended under this subparagraph shall have no right to seek release on bond. (ii) specific circumstances The Secretary of Homeland Security, in the exercise of the Secretary’s sole discretion, may continue to detain an alien beyond the 90 days authorized in clause (i)— (I) until the alien is removed, if the Secretary, in the Secretary’s sole discretion, determines that there is a significant likelihood that the alien— (aa) will be removed in the reasonably foreseeable future; or (bb) would be removed in the reasonably foreseeable future, or would have been removed, but for the alien's failure or refusal to make all reasonable efforts to comply with the removal order, or to cooperate fully with the Secretary's efforts to establish the alien's identity and carry out the removal order, including making timely application in good faith for travel or other documents necessary to the alien's departure, or conspires or acts to prevent removal; (II) until the alien is removed, if the Secretary of Homeland Security certifies in writing— (aa) in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, that the alien has a highly contagious disease that poses a threat to public safety; (bb) after receipt of a written recommendation from the Secretary of State, that release of the alien is likely to have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States; (cc) based on information available to the Secretary of Homeland Security (including classified, sensitive, or national security information, and without regard to the grounds upon which the alien was ordered removed), that there is reason to believe that the release of the alien would threaten the national security of the United States; or (dd) that the release of the alien will threaten the safety of the community or any person, conditions of release cannot reasonably be expected to ensure the safety of the community or any person, and either (AA) the alien has been convicted of one or more aggravated felonies (as defined in section 101(a)(43)(A)) or of one or more crimes identified by the Secretary of Homeland Security by regulation, or of one or more attempts or conspiracies to commit any such aggravated felonies or such identified crimes, if the aggregate term of imprisonment for such attempts or conspiracies is at least 5 years; or (BB) the alien has committed one or more crimes of violence (as defined in section 16 of title 18, United States Code, but not including a purely political offense) and, because of a mental condition or personality disorder and behavior associated with that condition or disorder, the alien is likely to engage in acts of violence in the future; or (III) pending a certification under subclause (II), so long as the Secretary of Homeland Security has initiated the administrative review process not later than 30 days after the expiration of the removal period (including any extension of the removal period, as provided in paragraph (1)(C)). (iii) No right to bond hearing An alien whose detention is extended under this subparagraph shall have no right to seek release on bond, including by reason of a certification under clause (ii)(II). (C) Renewal and delegation of certification (i) renewal The Secretary of Homeland Security may renew a certification under subparagraph (B)(ii)(II) every 6 months, after providing an opportunity for the alien to request reconsideration of the certification and to submit documents or other evidence in support of that request. If the Secretary does not renew a certification, the Secretary may not continue to detain the alien under subparagraph (B)(ii)(II). (ii) delegation Notwithstanding section 103, the Secretary of Homeland Security may not delegate the authority to make or renew a certification described in item (bb), (cc), or (dd) of subparagraph (B)(ii)(II) below the level of the Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (iii) hearing The Secretary of Homeland Security may request that the Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee provide for a hearing to make the determination described in item (dd)(BB) of subparagraph (B)(ii)(II). (D) Release on conditions If it is determined that an alien should be released from detention by a Federal court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, or if an immigration judge orders a stay of removal, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in the exercise of the Secretary's discretion, may impose conditions on release as provided in paragraph (3). (E) Redetention The Secretary of Homeland Security, in the exercise of the Secretary's discretion, without any limitations other than those specified in this section, may again detain any alien subject to a final removal order who is released from custody, if removal becomes likely in the reasonably foreseeable future, the alien fails to comply with the conditions of release, or to continue to satisfy the conditions described in subparagraph (A), or if, upon reconsideration, the Secretary, in the Secretary’s sole discretion, determines that the alien can be detained under subparagraph (B). This section shall apply to any alien returned to custody pursuant to this subparagraph, as if the removal period terminated on the day of the redetention. (F) Review of determinations by Secretary A determination by the Secretary under this paragraph shall not be subject to review by any other agency. . (b) Detention of aliens during removal proceedings (1) Clerical amendment (A) Section 236 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226) is amended by striking Attorney General each place it appears (except in the second place that term appears in section 236(a)) and inserting Secretary of Homeland Security. (B) Section 236(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226(a)) is amended by inserting the Secretary of Homeland Security or before the Attorney General—. (C) Section 236(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226(e)) is amended by striking Attorney General’s and inserting Secretary of Homeland Security’s. (2) Length of detention Section 236 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226) is amended by adding at the end the following subsection: (f) Length of detention (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an alien may be detained under this section for any period, without limitation, except as provided in subsection (h), until the alien is subject to a final order of removal. (2) The length of detention under this section shall not affect detention under section 241 of this Act. . (3) detention of criminal aliens Section 236(c)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226(c)(1)) is amended, in the matter following subparagraph (D) to read as follows: any time after the alien is released, without regard to whether an alien is released related to any activity, offense, or conviction described in this paragraph; to whether the alien is released on parole, supervised release, or probation; or to whether the alien may be arrested or imprisoned again for the same offense. If the activity described in this paragraph does not result in the alien being taken into custody by any person other than the Secretary, then when the alien is brought to the attention of the Secretary or when the Secretary determines it is practical to take such alien into custody, the Secretary shall take such alien into custody. . (4) Administrative review Section 236 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226) is amended by adding at the end the following subsection: (g) Administrative review (1) The Attorney General’s review of the Secretary’s custody determinations under section 236(a) shall be limited to whether the alien may be detained, released on bond (of at least $1,500 with security approved by the Secretary), or released with no bond. (2) The Attorney General’s review of the Secretary’s custody determinations for the following classes of aliens: (A) Aliens in exclusion proceedings. (B) Aliens described in sections 212(a)(3) and 237(a)(4). (C) Aliens described in section 236(c). (D) Aliens in deportation proceedings subject to section 242(a)(2) of the Act (as in effect prior to April 1, 1997, and as amended by section 440(c) of Public Law 104–132); is limited to a determination of whether the alien is properly included in such category. (h) Release on bond (1) In general An alien detained under subsection (a) may seek release on bond. No bond may be granted except to an alien who establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the alien is not a flight risk or a risk to another person or the community. (2) Certain aliens ineligible No alien detained under subsection (c) may seek release on bond. . (5) Clerical amendments (A) Section 236(a)(2)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226(a)(2)(B)) is amended by striking out conditional parole and inserting in lieu thereof recognizance. (B) Section 236(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226(b)) is amended by striking parole and inserting recognizance. (c) Severability If any of the provisions of this Act or any amendment by this Act, or the application of any such provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid for any reason, the remainder of this Act and of amendments made by this Act, and the application of the provisions and of the amendments made by this Act to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected by such holding. (d) Effective dates (1) The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect upon the date of enactment of this Act, and section 241 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as so amended, shall in addition apply to— (A) all aliens subject to a final administrative removal, deportation, or exclusion order that was issued before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act; and (B) acts and conditions occurring or existing before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act. (2) The amendments made by subsection (b) shall take effect upon the date of enactment of this Act, and section 236 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as so amended, shall in addition apply to any alien in detention under provisions of such section on or after the date of enactment of this Act. 3. Sense of the Congress It is the sense of the Congress that— (1) this Act should ensure that Constitutional rights are upheld and protected; and (2) it is the intention of the Congress to uphold the Constitutional principles of due process and that due process of the law is a right afforded to everyone in the United States.