Respect for Local Communities Act

House Bill

H.R. 7652

119th Congress

Respect for Local Communities Act

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 23, 2026

Primary Sponsor

Chris Pappas

D - NH

Cosponsors

0

Quick Stats

Summary

This bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to get approval from local communities and Congress before building or opening any new immigration detention facilities. It creates a mandatory public comment period and requires signed agreements with state and local officials, giving communities a formal say in whether these facilities can operate in their area. The legislation aims to increase transparency and local control over federal detention infrastructure.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Introduced2/23/2026

StatusReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

ChamberHouse

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Vote Prediction

Respect for Local Communities Act

This bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to get approval from local communities and Congress before building or opening any new immigration detention facilities. It creates a mandatory public comment period and requires signed agreements wit

Community Breakdown

Pass

0%

Fail

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0 predictions

This bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to get approval from local communities and Congress before building or opening any new immigration detention facilities. It creates a mandatory public comment period and requires signed agreements with state and local officials, giving communities a formal say in whether these facilities can operate in their area. The legislation aims to increase transparency and local control over federal detention infrastructure.

Bill Number: 7652
Introduced: 2/23/2026
Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Respect for Local Communities Act
Bill Number: 7652
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced: 2/23/2026
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to get approval from local communities and Congress before building or opening any new immigration detention facilities. It creates a mandatory public comment period and requires signed agreements with state and local officials, giving comm

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to get approval from local communities and Congress before building or opening any new immigration detention facilities. It creates a mandatory public comment period and requires signed agreements with state and local officials, giving communities a formal say in whether these facilities can operate in their area. The legislation aims to increase transparency and local control over federal detention infrastructure.

Last updated: 2/24/2026

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Communities would gain the right to formally comment and have input before any immigration detention center or processing site opens in their area
DHS must secure written agreements with state and local officials before constructing, acquiring, renovating, or operating detention facilities
Congress must receive advance notice before any new detention infrastructure is established, creating an additional oversight layer
The bill addresses concerns about federal facilities being imposed on communities without local input or coordination with law enforcement and social services
Would apply to all new facilities going forward, potentially slowing expansion of detention infrastructure while increasing accountability

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill would directly affect communities where DHS might establish detention facilities, giving local residents and officials formal power to weigh in on decisions that impact their neighborhoods. Immigration advocates and detained individuals could benefit from increased oversight and community awareness, while DHS operations could face delays in expanding detention capacity. Local governments would gain leverage to negotiate terms or oppose facilities they believe would strain resources or conflict with community values.

Policy Areas

No policy areas assigned yet.

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

7652, 119th Congress (2026). "Respect for Local Communities Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-hr-7652

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