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119-hr-7785119th Congress

Protecting Our Communities Act

Sponsored By: Representative Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]

In Committee

Summary

Mandatory body-worn and dashboard cameras for federal immigration enforcement personnel are required alongside visible insignia, de-escalation training, local notification, and regular reports to Congress to increase accountability and transparency. The law sets technical standards, limits on surveillance uses, and procedures for access and retention of footage.

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  • Families and people subject to enforcement gain rights to view footage during a one-year retention period. Footage must be kept for one year and facial recognition and collection of First Amendment activity are prohibited.
  • Federal immigration officers must wear visible insignia and keep cameras on during operations except when immediate danger makes activation impossible, and they may not deactivate cameras until the operation ends and they leave the scene. The measure also bars face coverings that conceal identity while on duty.
  • Local law enforcement will be notified before federal operations in their jurisdictions. DHS must report to Congress every six months on nondeadly force, assaults on personnel, and instances when officers did not display insignia or uniforms.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Body and dash cameras for officers

If enacted, DHS would have 90 days to issue a department-wide rule requiring body-worn cameras for all federal immigration enforcement personnel and dashboard cameras for enforcement vehicles. Cameras would be on by default, record video and audio during operations, and could only be delayed when activation is immediately dangerous; they could not be turned off until the operation ends. Footage would be retained for one year and then permanently deleted. During that one-year period, people recorded, their lawyers, parents of minors, next of kin of deceased people, certain officers and supervisors, and defense counsel who file a written affidavit claiming possible exculpatory evidence would have inspection rights under procedures the directive sets. The rule would ban using footage to monitor speech, religion, or associations and would prohibit facial recognition on this footage.

De-escalation training for officers

If enacted, DHS would have 180 days to develop or pick training on de-escalation and alternatives to force for federal immigration enforcement personnel. The training would include scenario-based exercises, pre- and post-training tests, and follow-up evaluations to measure whether officers apply the training on the job. DHS would develop the curriculum in consultation with State and local law enforcement, immigrant and civil-rights groups, disability and mental-health organizations, labor groups, family advocates, and professional law enforcement associations.

Notice to local police before operations

If enacted, federal immigration enforcement would be required to notify local law enforcement before operations in the local jurisdiction. The bill does not set how far in advance notice must be given or the format of that notice. This would help local police plan and coordinate responses but would also allow more coordinated enforcement that would change how immigration operations affect local communities.

Visible ID during DHS arrests

If enacted, when DHS detains or arrests someone for border or immigration reasons, the officer would visibly wear or display the official insignia or uniform and must give the detained person the name of the DHS component that employs them. Officers would not be allowed to wear face coverings that conceal the face during that detention or arrest, with tactical gear rules handled under DHS policy. DHS would report initial tactical-gear policies within 30 days after enactment and provide updates within 30 days after any change. DHS would also carry out research to improve how visible badges and uniforms are, taking location, time of day, and weather into account.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]

OH • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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