The Justice for Jocelyn Act makes significant changes to how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) handles immigrants who are awaiting removal from the United States. Currently, ICE has a program that allows some immigrants to be released from detention while their cases are being processed, as long as they follow certain rules. This bill would make that program much stricter.

Under this bill, immigrants could only be released from detention if ICE has completely filled all available detention beds and has genuinely exhausted every other option. Additionally, anyone released would be required to wear a GPS monitor and follow a strict curfew. This means far fewer people would be released, and those who are would face much tighter restrictions on their movement and activities.

The bill also changes what happens if someone fails to follow the conditions of their release. Instead of going through a normal hearing process, an immigration officer could submit a statement to an immigration judge saying the person violated their release conditions, and that person could then be deported without even being present at the hearing. This is a significant shift from current procedures that typically require people to have a chance to defend themselves in court.

Justice for Jocelyn Act

Cruz, Ted

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.