House Passes Policing Reform Legislation Containing Several Provisions Relevant to
Immigration Enforcement
Immigration Enforcement
Thursday, June 25, 2020
The full U.S. House of Representatives has passed a broad measure aimed at reforming the way federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies engage communities of color. The House acted on Thursday, June 25, 2020, in connection with H.R. 7120, the "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020", approving the measure by a bipartisan vote of 236-181, with all participating Democrats and three of the chamber's 184 participating Republicans voting in favor of the bill. An uncertain fate awaits Thursday's House action, however. One day earlier, the Senate rejected an attempt to take up a competing bill that had been written by Senate Republicans. And the White House has signaled that President Trump would veto H.R. 7120 if it was presented to him.
Introduced by Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass (D-CA) and cosponsored by 230 of the 233 sitting House Democrats, the measure is a reaction to the deaths over the last several weeks of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Atlanta, Georgia, and the widespread protests and civil unrest that those killings have spawned.
The House Committee on Judiciary had acted on the measure a week earlier, approving it on Thursday, June 18, 2020, by a party-line vote of 24-14. The committee reported the bill to the full House one day later with a written report.
While the measure has few explicit references to immigrants, it is believed that its provisions relating to federal law enforcement agencies and officers would apply to federal immigration authorities, and the measure deals with racial profiling at both the federal and local levels.
The House Committee on Judiciary had acted on the measure a week earlier, approving it on Thursday, June 18, 2020, by a party-line vote of 24-14. The committee reported the bill to the full House one day later with a written report.
While the measure has few explicit references to immigrants, it is believed that its provisions relating to federal law enforcement agencies and officers would apply to federal immigration authorities, and the measure deals with racial profiling at both the federal and local levels.
In General
As passed by the full House, H.R. 7120 would take numerous actions intended to overhaul police departments and practices across the nation and end any racial profiling and the use of excessive force by police against minorities or others, and make police departments and individual officers more accountable.
Among its many provisions are those that would require the development of police department accreditation standards that promote accountability, requires enhanced training on the use of force (including by prohibiting use of deadly force except "as a last resort"), requires detailed reporting of incidents in which force is used, and provides for more vigorous investigations of police departments where police misconduct may occur.
The measure would bar certain police practices, including racial profiling, the use of chokehold restraints, and no-knock warrants in drug cases; it requires the collection of detailed data on police interactions with citizens; and it requires police officers to wear body cameras and to have dashboard cameras in their marked cruisers
Finally, it would make it easier to prosecute individual police officers for violating someone's constitutional rights and for private citizens to sue an officer who violated their rights, and it would make lynching a federal crime. In most cases the bill's mandates and prohibitions would apply just to federal law enforcement, with state and local police departments required to adopt the same standards as a condition for receiving federal policing grants.
As passed by the full House, H.R. 7120 would take numerous actions intended to overhaul police departments and practices across the nation and end any racial profiling and the use of excessive force by police against minorities or others, and make police departments and individual officers more accountable.
Among its many provisions are those that would require the development of police department accreditation standards that promote accountability, requires enhanced training on the use of force (including by prohibiting use of deadly force except "as a last resort"), requires detailed reporting of incidents in which force is used, and provides for more vigorous investigations of police departments where police misconduct may occur.
The measure would bar certain police practices, including racial profiling, the use of chokehold restraints, and no-knock warrants in drug cases; it requires the collection of detailed data on police interactions with citizens; and it requires police officers to wear body cameras and to have dashboard cameras in their marked cruisers
Finally, it would make it easier to prosecute individual police officers for violating someone's constitutional rights and for private citizens to sue an officer who violated their rights, and it would make lynching a federal crime. In most cases the bill's mandates and prohibitions would apply just to federal law enforcement, with state and local police departments required to adopt the same standards as a condition for receiving federal policing grants.
Applicability to Immigration-Related Enforcement Entities and Officers
- Federal Law Enforcement Agency. The measure provides that the term ‘‘Federal law enforcement agency’’ means any agency of the United States authorized to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of Federal criminal law. While the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agencies generally deal with violations of civil immigration law, they both also deal with criminal violations. Thus, it can be argued that they would be covered under the legislation.
- Federal Law Enforcement Officer. The measure provides that the term, “federal Law Enforcement officer” has the same meaning found in 18 U.S.C. 115, which is “any officer, agent, or employee of the United States authorized by law or by a Government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of Federal criminal law.”
Provisions that Could Apply to Federal Immigration Agencies and Officers
The prohibition on profiling and requirement for training would be set by law for federal agencies and officers, while state and local law enforcement would be eligible for federal Byrne grant funding only if they adopt similar policies and establish best practices to discourage profiling.
The bill would require the Justice Department to create a training program on racial bias, implicit bias and procedural justice that addresses a "duty to intervene" when a law enforcement officer witnesses another officer using excessive force against a civilian. This training would be mandatory for federal law enforcement officers, with the availability of Byrne grants to local departments being dependent on local police receiving this training.
Law enforcement agencies would be required to provide data regarding racial profiling to the Justice Department. And to further help the department identify racial and other patterns in policing, all federal, state and local law enforcement agencies would be required to report on traffic violation stops, pedestrian stops, frisk and body searches, and all uses of deadly force by a police officer — with the information to be broken down by race, ethnicity, age, and gender of the both the officer and the member of the public involved.
Federal law enforcement officers would be required to activate the cameras whenever they are responding to a call, or when any other law enforcement or investigative action occurs in which they encounter civilians, and the camera may not be deactivated until the action has concluded and the officer leaves the scene.
- Police Misconduct Registry. The bill would require the Department of Justice to create a National Police Misconduct Registry that includes all misconduct complaints (including pending, sustained and exonerated complaints) as well as discipline, termination and certification records of police officers. States receiving Byrne grant funding would be required to provide updated information to the registry every six months.
- Use of Force. The bill generally would prohibit law enforcement use of deadly force except "as a last resort" (currently officers may use deadly force if he or she "reasonably" believes its use is warranted), instead requiring officers to first attempt de-escalation techniques or other reasonable alternatives and to provide a verbal warning before using force. The use of force restrictions would be set by law for federal law enforcement officers, and state and local law enforcement would not be eligible for Byrne grants unless they adopted the same standards.
- Racial Profiling. The bill generally would prohibit federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and officers from profiling individuals based on racial, religious and other discriminatory profiles. It would permit both individuals subject to such profiling and the Justice Department to sue a police department, individual officer or supervisor for declaratory or injunctive relief in state or federal court. It would require law enforcement agencies to provide training to officers with respect to racial, religious and discriminatory profiling.
The prohibition on profiling and requirement for training would be set by law for federal agencies and officers, while state and local law enforcement would be eligible for federal Byrne grant funding only if they adopt similar policies and establish best practices to discourage profiling.
The bill would require the Justice Department to create a training program on racial bias, implicit bias and procedural justice that addresses a "duty to intervene" when a law enforcement officer witnesses another officer using excessive force against a civilian. This training would be mandatory for federal law enforcement officers, with the availability of Byrne grants to local departments being dependent on local police receiving this training.
Law enforcement agencies would be required to provide data regarding racial profiling to the Justice Department. And to further help the department identify racial and other patterns in policing, all federal, state and local law enforcement agencies would be required to report on traffic violation stops, pedestrian stops, frisk and body searches, and all uses of deadly force by a police officer — with the information to be broken down by race, ethnicity, age, and gender of the both the officer and the member of the public involved.
- Chokeholds. The bill would prohibit federal law enforcement officers from using chokeholds or carotid holds to restrain an individual, and it would withhold Byrne grant funding to state and local police unless state or local laws are enacted to prohibit the practice.
- Civil Suits / Qualified Immunity. The bill would eliminate the legal doctrine of "qualified immunity" as it applies to police officers, which would make it easier for individuals to sue police officers who they say violated their constitutional rights or the rights of someone in their family — such as for excessive use of force in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
- Body Cameras. The bill would require all federal uniformed police officers to wear operational body cameras and have dashboard cameras in all marked police vehicles, and it would require state and local police departments that receive federal Byrne grants to use at least 10 percent of that funding to purchase body and dash cameras for police officers and vehicles.
Federal law enforcement officers would be required to activate the cameras whenever they are responding to a call, or when any other law enforcement or investigative action occurs in which they encounter civilians, and the camera may not be deactivated until the action has concluded and the officer leaves the scene.
Senate Bill Sputters
One day before the House took up H.R. 7120, the Senate failed in its attempt to take up a competing measure. That bill, S. 3985, the “Just and Unifying Solutions To Invigorate Communities Everywhere Act of 2020” or the “JUSTICE Act” was introduced in the Senate by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), that body's lone black Republican,
The JUSTICE Act was criticized by Democrats, as well as by African American policing reform advocates as not doing enough to address what they have viewed as systematic race-based violence and racial profiling by America's law enforcement community Senate action came on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, when the Senate failed by a vote of 55-45 to invoke cloture on (thus, end debate on) a motion to proceed to considering the measure. the vote was largely along party lines, with all of the chamber's Republicans voting in favor of taking up the bill and all of the Senate's Democrats except Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Doug Jones (D-AL) voting against doing so.
One day before the House took up H.R. 7120, the Senate failed in its attempt to take up a competing measure. That bill, S. 3985, the “Just and Unifying Solutions To Invigorate Communities Everywhere Act of 2020” or the “JUSTICE Act” was introduced in the Senate by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), that body's lone black Republican,
The JUSTICE Act was criticized by Democrats, as well as by African American policing reform advocates as not doing enough to address what they have viewed as systematic race-based violence and racial profiling by America's law enforcement community Senate action came on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, when the Senate failed by a vote of 55-45 to invoke cloture on (thus, end debate on) a motion to proceed to considering the measure. the vote was largely along party lines, with all of the chamber's Republicans voting in favor of taking up the bill and all of the Senate's Democrats except Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Doug Jones (D-AL) voting against doing so.
Veto Threat
Also on Wednesday, the White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) in which it advised Congress that it would recommend that President Trump veto H.R. 7120 should it be presented to him for his consideration. The SAP states that "This overbroad bill would deter good people from pursuing careers in law enforcement, weaken the ability of law enforcement agencies to reduce crime and keep our communities safe, and fail to bring law enforcement and the communities they serve closer together." The SAP declares that "The Administration favors a targeted approach that will improve the quality of police services provided to every American community, instead of using an excessive approach such as the one taken by H.R. 7120. "
The White House expressed support for the Senate bill;s approach, instead, saying, "In this moment, America needs both sides of the aisle in Congress to come together to pass meaningful solutions. Unfortunately, H.R. 7120 represents partisan politics that would undermine law enforcement and make our communities less safe. In contrast, S. 3985, the JUSTICE Act, and its House companion bill, H.R. 7278, would take a reasoned, bipartisan approach, incentivize best practices throughout the country, and help improve nationwide law enforcement reporting of data regarding uses of force, weapons discharge, and uses of other law enforcement techniques."
Also on Wednesday, the White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) in which it advised Congress that it would recommend that President Trump veto H.R. 7120 should it be presented to him for his consideration. The SAP states that "This overbroad bill would deter good people from pursuing careers in law enforcement, weaken the ability of law enforcement agencies to reduce crime and keep our communities safe, and fail to bring law enforcement and the communities they serve closer together." The SAP declares that "The Administration favors a targeted approach that will improve the quality of police services provided to every American community, instead of using an excessive approach such as the one taken by H.R. 7120. "
The White House expressed support for the Senate bill;s approach, instead, saying, "In this moment, America needs both sides of the aisle in Congress to come together to pass meaningful solutions. Unfortunately, H.R. 7120 represents partisan politics that would undermine law enforcement and make our communities less safe. In contrast, S. 3985, the JUSTICE Act, and its House companion bill, H.R. 7278, would take a reasoned, bipartisan approach, incentivize best practices throughout the country, and help improve nationwide law enforcement reporting of data regarding uses of force, weapons discharge, and uses of other law enforcement techniques."
Next Steps
Now that the House has passed H.R. 7120, the next step in the legislative process is consideration of the measure (or a competing bill) by the full Senate. The Senate's rejection of attempts to take up its bill and the White House's threat to veto the House measure makes it uncertain whether policing reform legislation will make it to the President's desk before the end of the 116th Congress.
Now that the House has passed H.R. 7120, the next step in the legislative process is consideration of the measure (or a competing bill) by the full Senate. The Senate's rejection of attempts to take up its bill and the White House's threat to veto the House measure makes it uncertain whether policing reform legislation will make it to the President's desk before the end of the 116th Congress.