# 119-s-3997: Homeland Security Improvement Act

119-s-3997, Homeland Security Improvement Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM); status introduced (as of 2026-09-06).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3997
- As of: 2026-09-06
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-3997
- Congress: 119
- Title: Homeland Security Improvement Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-03-04
- Sponsor: Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-06

## Summary

**Independent oversight of DHS border operations** is the central goal of this bill. It would create new watchdog offices, tighten training and reporting, and add protections for migrants and border communities.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Longer training for border agents: benefit, medium. If enacted, this bill would require longer initial training and regular continuing education for CBP and Border Patrol. Office of Field Operations staff would get at least 19 weeks and Border Patrol at least 23 weeks before assignments, plus at least 8 hours of yearly continuing education. Trainers…
- More data on stops and checkpoints: benefit, medium. If enacted, this bill would require DHS and other law enforcement to collect standard data for patrol stops and searches, including date, place, perceived race, items seized, outcomes, language used, and whether recordings exist. CBP would compile checkpoint counts and details. The Secretary must i…
- New Border Ombudsman Office: benefit, medium. If enacted, this bill would create an independent Office of the Ombudsman inside DHS. The Ombudsman would take multilingual complaints, investigate and seek redress, and could pursue immigration relief or money damages. The office would run a public complaint database, an online detainee locator fo…
- New Border Oversight Commission: benefit, medium. If enacted, this bill would create a 30-member independent Border Oversight Commission with northern and southern subcommittees. Members would be appointed by congressional leaders in consultation with the President and serve four-year terms. The Commission would meet regularly, make recommendation…
- Reports to reduce deaths and delays: benefit, medium. If enacted, this bill would require CBP and ICE to jointly report on migrant deaths within 180 days and then every year. DHS must also deliver a ports-of-entry management assessment within 180 days and issue guidelines to cut delays, including adding technology at ports averaging over two-hour dela…
- Stronger limits on separating families: mixed, high. If enacted, this bill would bar DHS officers from removing a child from a parent solely to deter migration or to promote compliance. Children could only be removed near the border in narrow state-law or child-welfare cases, and DHS would have to give parents written reasons and evidence for any rem…

## Related bills

- 119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
- 119-s-4668: Protect College Sports Act of 2026
- 119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-4504: Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-s-3997 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3997)

## Related
- [119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2120)
- [119-s-4668: Protect College Sports Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4668)
- [119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5022)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3597)
- [119-s-4504: Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4504)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3997 (as of 2026-09-06).