The PROKID Act establishes an independent Office of the Ombudsperson for Immigrant Children in Immigration Custody within the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee the treatment of immigrant children detained by the federal government. The ombudsperson, who must have experience in immigration law and child advocacy, will monitor detention facilities for compliance with federal law, investigate complaints of abuse and mistreatment, conduct unannounced facility visits, and advocate for the release of detained children into the least restrictive settings possible. The ombudsperson will have authority to issue subpoenas, establish regional offices, and provide assistance on individual cases, with a requirement to file annual reports to Congress detailing findings and recommendations. The bill also requires the collection and public reporting of detailed data on detained children, including their location, demographics, and length of stay, while prohibiting the use of this information for immigration enforcement or law enforcement purposes. The legislation does not specify dedicated funding amounts but establishes the ombudsperson as an independent entity separate from both the Office of Refugee Resettlement and the Department of Homeland Security.
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