H.R. 7708

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7708 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7708

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the Secretary 
of Homeland Security to return identification documents to individuals 
upon their release from custody, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 25, 2026

Ms. Pingree introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the Secretary 
of Homeland Security to return identification documents to individuals 
upon their release from custody, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting All Personal Effects and 
Records from Seizure Act of 2026'' or the ``PAPERS Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. RETURN OF DOCUMENTS AFTER RELEASE FROM DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 
SECURITY CUSTODY.

(a) In General.--Chapter 4 of title II of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act is amended by inserting after section 236A the 
following:

``SEC. 236B. RETURN OF DOCUMENTS AFTER RELEASE FROM CUSTODY.

``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), upon 
releasing any individual from custody under this Act, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall return to such individual each covered document 
taken from the individual while in the custody of the Department of 
Homeland Security.
``(b) Exception.--The Secretary may retain a covered document only 
if--
``(1) the document is determined to be fraudulent;
``(2) the document is contraband or evidence in a pending 
criminal proceeding; or
``(3) the individual is no longer legally entitled to 
possess the document under Federal law.
``(c) Certified Copies.--If a covered document is retained pursuant 
to subsection (b), the Secretary shall provide the individual with a 
written explanation of the applicable exception and a certified copy of 
the document, unless prohibited by law.
``(d) Covered Document.--For purposes of this section, the term 
`covered document' includes an original passport, permanent resident 
card, employment authorization document, birth certificate, driver's 
license, social security card, and any other similar government-issued 
document.
``(e) No Operational Exception.--Operational convenience or an 
anticipated future immigration enforcement action does not constitute 
grounds to retain a document after releasing an individual from custody 
under this Act.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act is amended by inserting after the item related to 
section 236A the following:

``236B. Return of documents after release from custody.''.
<all>