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# Summary of S. 4119: Restricting Solitary Confinement in Immigration Detention Act of 2024 This bill severely restricts the use of solitary confinement in immigration detention facilities operated or contracted by the Department of Homeland Security. Under the law, solitary confinement would be limited to 8 hours per incident, 8 hours per 24-hour period, and 16 hours per week, and only when necessary to address immediate threats. A broader category called "longer-term separation" would be limited to 7 consecutive days (or 7 days per 14-day period), with detainees required to have at least 10 hours of out-of-cell time daily and meaningful access to programming, counsel, and social interaction. The bill provides special protections for vulnerable populations, including minors, people with serious mental illness or intellectual disability, pregnant women, LGBTQ individuals, and people with physical disabilities. These groups generally cannot be placed in solitary confinement except in extreme emergency situations lasting only 3 hours (or 30 minutes for self-harm threats). The law mandates mental health screenings within 6 hours of placement and requires licensed mental health professionals to review placements regularly. All detention facility staff must receive training on recognizing mental illness, de-escalation techniques, and the psychological effects of solitary confinement. The legislation establishes detailed reporting and oversight requirements, including daily facility reports on solitary confinement use, weekly public data on placements, and annual assessments by oversight offices. It allows detainees to file civil lawsuits against violators and seek monetary damages and attorney's fees. The law takes effect 18 months after enactment, though the bill does not specify funding amounts beyond authorizing "such sums as may be necessary."

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