# 119-hr-1678: Homeland Security Improvement Act

119-hr-1678, Homeland Security Improvement Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16] (D-TX); status in_committee (as of 2026-09-06).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1678
- As of: 2026-09-06
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-1678
- Congress: 119
- Title: Homeland Security Improvement Act
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-02-27
- Sponsor: Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16] (D-TX)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-06

## Summary

**Creates independent oversight of DHS border operations** to strengthen accountability, improve training, collect standardized data, and limit child separations used only as a deterrent. The bill sets up a 30‑member Border Oversight Commission, an independent Ombudsman, new liaison offices, and detailed training and reporting rules.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Limits on child removals at border: benefit, high. This bill would limit when immigration officers could remove a child from a parent or guardian. Removal just to deter migration would be banned. Near a port of entry or within 100 miles of the border, removal would be allowed only if a State court ends parental rights or a State or county child wel…
- Independent help for border complaints: benefit, medium. This bill would create an independent Ombudsman inside DHS for border and immigration concerns. You could file a multilingual complaint online, by mail, or by phone. The office could investigate and, when appropriate, provide immigration relief or monetary damages. It would run a public complaint d…
- More public data on stops and deaths: benefit, medium. This bill would require officers to record details for patrol stops and extended detentions, including time, place, perceived race, gender, age, items seized, search type, and outcomes. Immigration status would be recorded only if learned in the normal course. CBP would track checkpoint counts, loc…
- More training for CBP officers: benefit, medium. This bill would require new training for CBP officers and agents. Office of Field Operations staff would get at least 19 weeks of initial training. Border Patrol staff would get at least 23 weeks. Each would get at least 8 hours of continuing education yearly on de-escalation, non‑lethal tools, vul…
- New guidelines to cut port delays: benefit, medium. This bill would require a report within 180 days on land port staffing, delays, technology, trade impacts, and access for asylum seekers and other vulnerable people. Based on that, the Secretary would set updated port guidelines. If a port had average delays over 2 hours last year, technology use c…
- Annual reports for Border Patrol sectors: benefit, low. This bill would require CBP to send a report for each Border Patrol sector within one year and then every year. Each report would assess border defense options and list staffing needs, including for asylum seekers, trafficking victims, and unaccompanied children. Reports would explain the roles of…
- Independent border oversight commission: benefit, low. This bill would create a 30‑member commission to oversee border policies and impacts on communities. Thirteen members would represent the northern border and 17 the southern border. Initial appointments would be made within 180 days, and members would serve four‑year terms. The commission would mee…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-5658: Child Care for Every Community Act
- 119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-1678 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1678)

## Related
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4393)
- [119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7481)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-5658: Child Care for Every Community Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5658)
- [119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3971)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1678 (as of 2026-09-06).