The Protection of Kids in Immigrant Detention Act (PROKID Act) establishes an independent Office of the Ombudsperson for Immigrant Children in Immigration Custody within the Department of Health and Human Services to monitor and advocate for children detained or held by immigration authorities. The Ombudsperson will investigate complaints of abuse, neglect, and mistreatment; conduct frequent unannounced inspections of detention facilities; and work to ensure children are held in the least restrictive settings possible, with priority given to releasing children held with families within 72 hours of apprehension. The bill applies to all facilities where immigrant children are detained, including government facilities, private detention centers, and temporary emergency shelters. The Ombudsperson will have subpoena power, access to case files and facility records, and authority to make binding recommendations to immigration agencies. The legislation also requires the Office of Refugee Resettlement to collect and publicly publish detailed monthly data on immigrant children in custody, establishes an expert advisory committee to assist with compliance monitoring, and mandates coordination between the Ombudsperson and Department of Homeland Security. The bill does not specify dedicated funding but requires the Comptroller General to evaluate the memorandum of understanding between the Ombudsperson and Department of Homeland Security within two years of enactment.
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