Emergency Responder Protection Act

Bill Number

H.R. 5603

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Immigration

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-26: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-03-06T09:07:14Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose The legislation seeks to restrict immigration enforcement activities at or near locations involved in emergency response and disaster relief, except in limited urgent situations. It is titled the "Emergency Responder Protection Act" and amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to protect access to emergency services.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits enforcement actions (such as arrests, interviews, searches, or surveillance for immigration purposes) at, focused on, or within 1,000 feet of a protected emergency response location, unless exigent circumstances exist.
• Defines protected emergency response location as areas within 1,000 feet of active disaster sites (including natural disasters like floods or wildfires and man-made events), emergency relief operations, temporary shelters, evacuation routes, or organizations providing disaster social services.
• Defines exigent circumstances as imminent risks of death, violence, or harm; hot pursuit of dangerous individuals; rare, pre-approved arrests of national security threats; or imminent destruction of evidence in a criminal case.
• Requires officers to stop enforcement if exigent circumstances end, and mandates real-time supervisor consultation if uncertainty exists.
• Directs officers to act discreetly, minimize time at the location, and limit actions to approved targets when enforcement occurs.
• Carves out exceptions for medical transport of individuals and rare, pre-approved operations targeting specific threats with written authorization.
• Bars use of evidence obtained in violation of these rules in removal proceedings and allows affected individuals to seek immediate termination of proceedings.
• Mandates annual training for relevant DHS personnel on these rules and related confidentiality provisions.
• Requires detailed reporting of any enforcement actions at protected locations to DHS oversight offices within 30 days, followed by annual congressional reports on actions, complaints, and outcomes.

Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill adds a new subsection (i) to Section 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1357), creating geographic and procedural limits on immigration officer authority that did not previously exist. It introduces mandatory reporting, training, and evidence exclusion mechanisms not found in current law.

Potential Impacts

• On government agencies: Increases oversight and administrative requirements for the Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, through training, real-time consultations, and multiple reporting channels.
• On citizens: May improve access to emergency aid and services during disasters by reducing immigration enforcement presence, potentially affecting both U.S. residents and noncitizens.
• On international relations: Minimal direct effects, though it could indirectly influence perceptions of U.S. humanitarian response priorities.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Department of Homeland Security components (ICE and CBP officers and supervisors).
• Individuals subject to immigration enforcement, particularly those in or near disaster areas.
• Emergency response organizations and disaster relief providers.
• Congress and DHS oversight bodies (Inspector General and Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties).
• Communities experiencing active emergencies or natural disasters.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure introduces an evidence exclusion rule in removal proceedings for violations, which could affect due process considerations in immigration cases. It establishes new supervisory approval processes and congressional reporting requirements, potentially raising questions about administrative burdens and enforcement discretion. The 90-day effective date and rulemaking mandate allow time for implementation guidelines.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]

Cosponsors (14)

Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-26: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-09-26: Introduced in House
• 2025-09-26: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Emergency Responder Protection Act — issued 2025-09-26 — PDF (17 pages)