No Cages in the Everglades Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4542
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-18: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T08:08:14Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation, titled the "No Cages in the Everglades Act," aims to block the use of federal funds for any immigration detention facility located in or next to the Everglades ecosystem and to strengthen congressional oversight of detention facilities.
Key Provisions
- Funding Prohibition: No Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funds, including those for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), may be used for planning, building, leasing, operating, staffing, or maintaining an immigration detention facility in the Everglades ecosystem. This ban also covers contracts with state or local governments for such purposes.
- Congressional Access: Members of Congress and designated staff may conduct announced or unannounced inspections of any DHS detention facility at any time, subject only to basic security and safety rules. Contracts cannot limit or waive this access.
- Independent Report: Within 90 days of enactment, the DHS Inspector General must submit a report to congressional committees covering fund use, construction process, compliance with federal detention standards, complaints from detainees, and risks from natural disasters. Briefings on the report are also required.
- Definitions: The bill defines key terms such as "Everglades ecosystem" (hydrologically connected wetlands in southern Florida), "facility," and "appropriate congressional committees."
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill introduces a targeted prohibition on funding a specific type of facility in a defined geographic area, which does not appear in prior statutes. It also establishes a new statutory right for congressional access to detention facilities that cannot be overridden by agreements with state or local operators.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: DHS and ICE would be restricted from allocating resources to the prohibited facility, potentially requiring relocation or alternative arrangements.
- Citizens and Environment: The measure could reduce construction and operational effects on the Everglades wetlands and lower risks to detainees, staff, and nearby residents from flooding or hurricanes.
- International Relations: No direct effects are outlined in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- DHS and ICE (primary agencies barred from funding and operating the facility).
- Members of Congress and their staff (granted expanded inspection rights).
- Detainees and facility operators (subject to new oversight and standards review).
- Florida-based congressional members and environmental interests tied to the Everglades.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill asserts congressional authority over executive agency spending and facility operations in a specific ecosystem. It reinforces legislative oversight of detention conditions without altering core constitutional detention authority. The requirement for an Inspector General inquiry adds an independent review layer to existing administrative processes.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
Cosponsors (15)
Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-18: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
- 2025-07-17: 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.
- 2025-07-17: 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.
- 2025-07-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- No Cages in the Everglades Act — issued 2025-07-17 — PDF (6 pages)