[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7470 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7470

    To prohibit the Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, from establishing or operating an 
    immigration detention or holding facility in Washington County, 
                   Maryland, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 10, 2026

Mrs. McClain Delaney introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on 
 Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To prohibit the Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, from establishing or operating an 
    immigration detention or holding facility in Washington County, 
                   Maryland, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Keep ICE Out of Washington County, 
Maryland Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Immigration detention and holding facilities have 
        significant and lasting impacts on surrounding communities, 
        including effects on public health, housing, infrastructure, 
        and local services.
            (2) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has detained 
        thousands of citizens and noncitizens without regard for due 
        process or the rule of law, undermining key constitutional 
        protections afforded to all people, regardless of status.
            (3) Detention conditions in U.S. Immigration and Customs 
        Enforcement facilities across the country are inhumane and fall 
        far short of our values as Americans.
            (4) Detained noncitizens are routinely denied medical care, 
        access to counsel, and family visitation while in Immigration 
        and Customs Enforcement custody.
            (5) Land-use planning and community development are 
        traditionally matters of local concern, and Federal actions 
        should respect community input and local priorities.
            (6) Residents and local officials in historic Washington 
        County, Maryland, have raised substantial concerns regarding 
        the siting of a Federal immigration detention or holding 
        facility in their community.
            (7) Congress has authority to condition and prohibit the 
        use of Federal funds and facilities.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN DETENTION AND HOLDING FACILITIES IN 
              WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.

    (a) Prohibition.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, no covered agency may--
                    (A) establish a detention or holding facility in 
                Washington County, Maryland; or
                    (B) operate, expand, or reopen any detention or 
                holding facility in Washington County.
            (2) Use of funds prohibited.--No funds appropriated or 
        otherwise made available to any covered agency may be obligated 
        or expended for any purpose described in paragraph (1).
    (b) Enforcement.--
            (1) Judicial review.--Any resident of Washington County, 
        Maryland, the government of Washington, County, a Member of 
        Congress, or the State of Maryland shall have standing to bring 
        an action in the United States District Court for the District 
        of Maryland to enforce this section.
            (2) Relief.--In any action brought under paragraph (1), the 
        court may grant declaratory and injunctive relief, including an 
        order prohibiting any activity in violation of this section.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Covered agency.--The term ``covered agency'' means the 
        Department of Homeland Security and any of its components, 
        including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
            (2) Detention or holding facility.--The term ``detention or 
        holding facility'' means any facility used primarily for the 
        civil detention or holding of noncitizens, including facilities 
        operated directly by the Federal Government or through 
        contracts, intergovernmental service agreements, or private 
        entities.
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