Calvert reintroduces Help Ensure Legal Detainers Act

Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) has reintroduced the Help Ensure Legal Detainers (HELD) Act, which seeks to prevent criminal illegal immigrants from being released back into communities.

The bill would require state and localities to adhere to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers, per officials, and deny all federal funding to any locality that has a law, policy or procedure in place that prevents local law enforcement from maintaining the custody of an alien pursuant to an ICE detainer.

“The safety of American families is jeopardized by states and localities that require their law enforcement officers to ignore ICE detainers,” Calvert said. “One of the few areas of widespread agreement regarding illegal immigrants is the desire to see dangerous and violent criminal illegal immigrants deported from our country. Congress should pass the HELD Act and send a strong message that the safety of our communities – including our immigrant communities – comes before political games.”

Additional provisions in the measure include the requirement of local municipalities to promptly respond to an ICE Detainer notice issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) requesting information about an illegal alien in custody in order for the Secretary to arrange for custody of the alien. It would also require local municipalities to maintain custody of an alien for up to 48 hours pursuant to an immigration detainer so the alien can be transferred to the DHS custody.