# Plain Language Summary: Justice for Jocelyn Act

This bill would significantly tighten how the government handles people going through immigration court proceedings who aren't being held in detention. Right now, some immigrants awaiting their court hearings are released into the community while their cases are processed. This bill would make that much harder and add strict monitoring requirements for anyone who is released.

The bill creates three main changes. First, it says people can only be released from detention if the government has literally run out of jail beds and has tried every possible way to keep them locked up. This is a major shift—currently, judges can release people based on various factors like whether they're a flight risk or danger to the community. Second, anyone who is released would be required to wear a GPS monitor at all times throughout their entire immigration case, including any appeals, and would have to stay home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. every night. Third, if someone violates the conditions of their release—like breaking curfew or tampering with their GPS monitor—they can be ordered removed from the country without even showing up to court to defend themselves.

The practical effect would be that far fewer immigrants awaiting court hearings would be released into their communities, and those who are released would face intensive surveillance and strict curfews. This could affect families who are trying to stay together while immigration cases proceed, people who need to work or attend medical appointments, and immigrants who have community ties but no criminal record. The bill is named after Jocelyn Nungaray, a child who was killed by someone in the country illegally, reflecting the bill's focus on public safety concerns.

Justice for Jocelyn Act

Nehls, Troy E.

Justice for Jocelyn ActThis bill limits Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE’s) Alternatives to Detention program, which supervises&nbsp;non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) subject to removal who are released from the custody of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Specifically, releases under this program are prohibited unless all detention beds are filled and DHS found no alternatives after exercising and exhausting all reasonable options.The bill requires all individuals on ICE’s nondetained docket to be enrolled in the program and be subject to continuous GPS monitoring and curfew.Further, the bill requires a&nbsp;non-U.S. national who was arrested and released to be removed in absentia if an immigration officer submits an affidavit to an immigration judge stating that the individual failed to comply with a condition of release.