Restoring Access for Detainees Act

Family Connection: Detainees are provided at least one 10-minute communication with immediate family within 5 hours of custody or arriving at a new location, and 200 free outgoing minutes monthly to those family members. (Section 4(a)(1), (2), and (3))

Legal Access: Detainees get an opportunity to establish private communication with legal counsel, potential counsel, or consulate officials within 5 hours of custody or moving to a new location. (Section 4(a)(4))

Unlimited Legal and Official Communication: Free, unlimited minutes are provided for calls to legal representatives, immigration courts, federal or state courts, and other designated government and international offices. (Section 4(a)(6))

Accountability and Oversight: Detainees have the opportunity to establish private communication with officials investigating detention conditions, such as the Office of the Inspector General. (Section 4(a)(5))

Privacy Protections: Communications with legal counsel and oversight officials are generally not monitored or recorded and must occur in spaces with auditory privacy. (Section 4(d)(1))

Protection from Retaliation: The Secretary of Homeland Security must create protocols to ensure detainees are not discouraged or retaliated against for using these communication services. (Section 4(b))

Facility Restrictions: Detention facilities are still authorized to create policies that regulate the time, place, and manner of outgoing communications. (Section 4(c)(1))

Warranted Surveillance: The privacy protections against monitoring or recording legal and official communications do not apply if a government official has a lawful court warrant. (Section 4(d)(2))