The Short-Term Detention Standards Act requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to ensure that people apprehended at the border receive appropriate temporary shelter with access to bathrooms and showers, along with food, water, hygiene items, and sanitation facilities during short-term detention. The bill establishes regular audits and inspections of CBP intake and detention processes to be conducted by the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office, including unannounced inspections. The legislation also grants members of Congress and their designated staff the right to inspect detention facilities without restrictions and prohibits CBP from making temporary changes to facilities before congressional visits. Inspectors and congressional visitors are permitted to take photographs and video recordings to document facility conditions, though they cannot publish images that identify individuals without permission. The bill does not specify dedicated funding amounts or implementation timelines beyond requiring that audits and inspections be carried out on a regular basis.
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