The Respect for Local Communities Act would require the Department of Homeland Security to obtain local and state approval before building, acquiring, renovating, or operating new immigration detention or processing facilities. Before proceeding, DHS must publish a public notice in the Federal Register allowing at least 30 days for public comments, conduct an economic and engineering review, and then secure a signed written agreement from the affected state's governor and the majority of local elected officials where the facility would be located. The agency must also submit a detailed report to six congressional committees—including the Senate and House committees on Homeland Security, Appropriations, and the Judiciary—and wait an additional 30 days before construction can begin. This legislation would essentially give local communities and states significant say in whether new immigration detention facilities are built in their jurisdictions, shifting decision-making authority away from federal agencies alone.
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