This bill aims to improve mental health support for immigrants and border patrol agents. It requires Customs and Border Protection to provide training to identify and address mental health issues, and to assign mental health experts to border facilities. The bill also restricts the government from using information about an immigrant's mental health in certain immigration proceedings.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill aims to improve mental health support for immigrants and border patrol agents. It requires Customs and Border Protection to provide training to identify and address mental health issues, and to assign mental health experts to border facilities. The bill also restricts the government from using information about an immigrant's mental health in certain immigration proceedings.
Last updated: 12/29/2025
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><b>Immigrants' Mental Health Act of 2023</b></p> <p>This bill directs Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to take steps to address mental health issues among immigrants and CBP agents and officers. It also restricts the sharing of mental health information for use in certain immigration proceedings.</p> <p>CBP shall develop training to enable its agents and officers to (1) identify mental health issues and risk factors in immigrants and refugees, (2) provide crisis intervention using a trauma-informed approach, and (3) better manage work-related stress and psychological pressures. </p> <p>CBP shall assign at least one qualified mental or behavioral health expert to each Border Patrol station, port of entry, checkpoint, forward operating base, secondary inspection area, and short-term custody facility. </p> <p>The Department of Health and Human Services may not provide to the Department of Homeland Security information about the mental health of an non-U.S. national (<i>alien</i> under federal law) that was obtained by a mental health professional while the individual was in federal government custody if the information will be used for (1) an asylum determination, (2) an immigration hearing, or (3) a deportation hearing. </p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Requires CBP to develop training to help agents identify and respond to mental health issues among immigrants and refugees
Mandates that CBP assign qualified mental health experts to border facilities
Prohibits the government from using an immigrant's mental health information obtained in federal custody against them in asylum, immigration, or deportation hearings
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
This bill would directly impact immigrants and refugees, as well as CBP agents, by providing increased mental health resources and protections. It could help address mental health challenges faced by those in the immigration system and improve the wellbeing of border patrol personnel. The restrictions on using mental health information in proceedings could also benefit immigrants seeking asylum or facing deportation.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Immigration
Related Subjects
Congressional oversight
Employment and training programs
Government studies and investigations
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Immigrant health and welfare
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Worker safety and health
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
4954, 119th Congress (2025). "Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-4954
