HR 4954 United States House · 118th Congress

Immigrants’ Mental Health Act of 2023

HR 4954, the Immigrants’ Mental Health Act of 2023, requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to train agents to identify mental health risks in immigrants and refugees arriving at the border, using trauma-informed approaches and language assistance. It mandates that each CBP facility employ at least one bilingual mental health expert qualified in trauma-informed care, particularly for children and families, and authorizes $3 million annually for this staffing. The bill also prohibits sharing mental health information collected by Health and Human Services (HHS) with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for asylum, immigration, or deportation proceedings. These provisions directly affect immigrants/refugees in CBP custody, CBP personnel, and HHS/ICE staff handling mental health data. The law aims to improve mental health screening and privacy while addressing stress for CBP staff.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics: Mental Health Public Health Detention Sanctuary Policies Border Security

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jul 2023

Committee Review

Floor Vote

President

Introduced Jul 27, 2023 Last action Jul 27, 2023

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No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jul 27, 2023

Committee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.

lower

Jul 27, 2023

Committee

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

lower

Jul 27, 2023

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 11 co-sponsors