Justice for Jocelyn Act

Full Title:
Justice for Jocelyn Act

Summary#

This bill, the Justice for Jocelyn Act, would change how certain noncitizens are supervised while their immigration cases proceed. It would limit when people can be released instead of detained. It would require everyone on ICE's nondetained docket to be enrolled in an Alternatives to Detention program, to be continuously monitored by GPS for their immigration proceedings (and until removal if ordered), and to stay at their registered home address from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. The bill would also add a rule that if an immigration officer files an affidavit saying a person failed to follow release conditions, that person must be ordered removed in absentia. The bill includes a severability clause.

What it means for you#

  • If you are on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's nondetained docket, the bill would require you to be placed in an Alternatives to Detention program with continuous GPS monitoring and a nightly curfew at your registered address (10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.).
  • The bill says no one may be released under Alternatives to Detention unless all detention beds are filled and the Secretary of Homeland Security has tried and exhausted reasonable efforts to detain them.
  • If an immigration officer files an affidavit saying you failed to comply with a release condition, the bill would direct an immigration judge to order removal in absentia.
  • For people not on ICE's nondetained docket or for other groups, the bill text does not provide specific changes.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on costs or budget effects is included in the bill text or provided metadata.

Proponents' View#

The bill was introduced in the Senate by Senators Ted Cruz, Shelley Capito, Bill Cassidy, Marsha Blackburn, Steve Daines, Roger Wicker, and Ted Budd. The text of the bill would increase use of Alternatives to Detention only after detention capacity is exhausted, require continuous GPS monitoring and a nightly curfew for nondetained docket cases, and add a basis for ordering removal in absentia when an immigration officer files an affidavit of failure to comply with release conditions.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information on opposing viewpoints or official statements is included in the bill text or provided metadata.