This bill would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to set up a standard system to track and report, at least every three months, any time a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident is held in DHS custody for 24 hours or more, or is removed from the U.S. for immigration enforcement. The system must be in place within 180 days of the law taking effect.

It must also capture cases where another federal, state, or local agency first apprehends someone and then transfers them to DHS, and include details when a child under 18 who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident is removed alongside a parent or guardian who lacks lawful status. DHS and the State Department must also create a way for people to submit proof if they are, in fact, a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident. These steps aim to prevent wrongful detention or removal and improve accountability through regular reporting to Congress.

• Who is affected: U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents caught up in immigration enforcement, including children in mixed-status families.
• What changes: DHS must track, record, and report these cases quarterly, and offer a process to submit proof of citizenship or lawful status.
• When: The tracking system and proof process must be created within 180 days after the law is enacted.