The Respect Our Communities Act would require the Department of Homeland Security to obtain local approval and public input before building, purchasing, renovating, or operating any new immigration detention or processing facility. Before proceeding, DHS would need to publish a notice in the Federal Register inviting at least 30 days of public comments, complete an economic impact analysis and engineering review, and secure a signed written agreement from the mayor or city council and state governor of the jurisdiction where the facility would be located. The agency would also have to submit detailed plans to six congressional committees and wait an additional 30 days before moving forward. This legislation effectively gives local communities and state officials veto power over new detention facilities in their areas and requires federal agencies to demonstrate how proposed facilities would comply with detention standards and environmental regulations.
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