No Cages in the Everglades Act
Sponsored By: Representative Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would ban federal immigration detention facilities in or next to the Everglades and block federal funding or contracts for them. It would also guarantee congressional inspections and require an independent inspector general review of funding, construction, compliance with detention standards, detainee complaints, and ecological risks.
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- Families and detainees — Would prohibit DHS and ICE from planning, building, leasing, operating, staffing, or funding immigration detention facilities located within or adjacent to the Everglades ecosystem.
- Congress and oversight — Would guarantee Members of Congress and designated staff the right to conduct announced or unannounced inspections of any such facility, with no waivers or prior-notice requirements.
- Accountability and environment — Would require an independent inspector general report within 90 days that accounts for funds, describes construction, evaluates compliance with specified detention standards (NDS 2000, PBNDS 2008, PBNDS 2011, NDS 2019, Family Residential Standards 2020, Temporary Housing Standards), documents detainee complaints, and assesses ecological and disaster risks, with mandatory briefings to relevant congressional committees.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Independent report on detention facility
If enacted, the DHS Inspector General would have 90 days to report to Congress on the facility covered by the Act. The report would list funds used and explain how it was built. It would check the site against national detention standards. It would describe detainee complaints. It would also assess flood, hurricane, and other disaster risks for people and staff. Briefings to the relevant committees would be required.
New congressional access to detention sites
If enacted, Members of Congress and designated staff would be able to enter any DHS detention site, announced or unannounced, at any time, following safety rules. DHS contracts or agreements could not limit this right. No prior notice would be required. The bill would also define which committees and staff count, what counts as a facility, and the Everglades area. These rules would start upon enactment.
No immigration jails in Everglades
If enacted, DHS would be barred from using any funds to plan, build, lease, run, staff, or maintain an immigration detention site in or next to the Everglades ecosystem. DHS would also be blocked from signing contracts with public entities for those purposes. This would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
FL • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/17/2025
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/17/2025
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 7/17/2025
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/17/2025
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 7/17/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 7/17/2025
Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/17/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 7/22/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 7/22/2025
Crockett
TX • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]
TX • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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