INFORM Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 5073

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Immigration

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-03: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3826)

Last Updated

2026-06-11T08:06:47Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The INFORM Act of 2025 aims to increase transparency and family communication in the immigration detention system by requiring timely notification to the immediate family of any detained individual when they are transferred to a new facility. This helps families stay informed about the location and reasons for such moves.

Key Provisions

• Notification Requirement: For any individual detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under immigration laws, the agency must notify the detainee's immediate family within 24 hours of a transfer to a different facility.
• Content of Notification: The notice must include:
• The reason for the transfer.
• The name, address, phone number, and a point of contact for the new facility.
• Definitions:
• Immediate Family: Includes parents, siblings, children, and spouses, extending to step-relations, foster relationships, and legally recognized partnerships like common-law marriages or civil unions.
• Facility: Covers official detention centers as well as any temporary property used to house immigration detainees.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new federal mandate for prompt family notifications during detainee transfers, which was not explicitly required under prior immigration laws (such as those in the Immigration and Nationality Act). It adds a layer of procedural oversight to DHS operations without altering core detention authority.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: DHS will need to implement systems for rapid notifications, potentially increasing administrative workload and requiring updates to internal protocols for tracking family contacts.
• On Citizens and Detainees: Families of detainees (who may include U.S. citizens) gain better access to information, reducing uncertainty and enabling quicker support or legal visits. Detainees, often non-citizens awaiting immigration proceedings, may experience less isolation from family.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly improve perceptions of U.S. immigration practices by emphasizing humane treatment, potentially aiding diplomatic discussions on migration.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Primary agency responsible for compliance and enforcement.
• Immigration Detainees: Individuals in custody under immigration laws who are subject to transfers.
• Immediate Families of Detainees: Direct recipients of notifications, including U.S. citizens or residents with detained relatives.
• Immigration Advocacy Groups and Legal Aid Organizations: Likely to benefit from enhanced transparency, aiding their support for affected families.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: Strengthens procedural fairness in detention by promoting family involvement, aligning with due process principles under the Fifth Amendment (which requires fair treatment in government actions). It does not create new rights but enforces notification as a safeguard against arbitrary transfers.
• Constitutional Implications: Supports family unity interests indirectly tied to the Fourteenth Amendment's protections for family relations, though it applies specifically to immigration contexts where constitutional rights for non-citizens are more limited.
• Political Implications: Represents a bipartisan potential for reform in immigration policy, focusing on oversight without expanding or restricting detention powers; it could reduce litigation over lack of information in transfer cases.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29]

Cosponsors (33)

Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-03: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3826)
• 2025-08-29: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-08-29: Introduced in House
• 2025-08-29: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Immigration Notification for Facility Oversight and Relocation Management Act of 2025 — issued 2025-08-29 — PDF (2 pages)