H.R. 7652 — Respect for Local Communities Act

This section defines key terms for purposes of the Act, including (1) "appropriate local government officials" as the mayor, county executive, or equivalent elected official and a majority of the town council, city council, county council, county commission, or equivalent legislative authority of the local jurisdiction in which a new processing facility or detention center will be located; and (2) "new processing site or detention center" as any facility operated by or under contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement—including any designed under the Detention Reengineering Initiative—that, on or after enactment, will be used to temporarily hold persons pending resolution or completion of immigration removal operations or processes.

This section prohibits the Department of Homeland Security or any other federal agency from initiating the construction, acquisition, renovation, or operation of, or acquiring an interest in real property for, a new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing site or detention center until three requirements are met: (1) issuance of a Federal Register public notice open for at least 30 days of comments that describes the scope of the project, details the agency's due diligence process for complying with federal immigration detention standards and environmental regulations, includes other relevant information, and provides an economic impact analysis and engineering review addressing waste exportation, water usage, and electrical demand; (2) after the comment period, consideration and response by the agency head to significant comments under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. ch. 5, subch. II) and execution of a signed, written agreement with local government officials and the relevant state governor authorizing the project; and (3) submission of a report to the Senate and House Committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate only), Appropriations, and Judiciary—including a copy of the executed agreement—with at least 30 days elapsing before initiation.