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S 1071 111th Congress Senate

Protecting America's Communities Act

Official title: A bill to protect the national security of the United States by limiting the immigration rights of individuals detained by the Department of Defense at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.

Introduced: May 19, 2009 See on congress.gov
Immigration Administrative remediesCaribbean areaCubaDetention of persons
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Immigration status and proceduresLatin AmericaMilitary facilities and propertyRefugees, asylum, displaced personsTerrorism
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 19, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
May 19, 2009
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action May 19, 2009

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Protecting America's Communities Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the admission, asylum entry, or parole entry into the United States of an alien who, as of January 1, 2009, was being detained by the Department of Defense (DOD) at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.

Requires the additional six-month detainment of such an alien ordered removed if the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) certifies that: (1) the alien cannot be removed due to the refusal of all countries designated by the alien to receive the alien; and (2) the Secretary is making reasonable efforts to find alternative means for removing the alien.

Authorizes the Secretary to renew such certification after providing the alien with an opportunity to request and provide evidentiary support for reconsideration of the detainment certification.

Prohibits: (1) an immigration judge or official of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement from releasing a detained alien on bond or parole; and (2) the Secretary from delegating certification authority to an official below the level of the Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Directs the Attorney General to take into custody upon release an alien who, as of January 1, 2009, was being detained by DOD at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.

Reaffirms that: (1) the United States is in an armed conflict with Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces; and (2) the President is authorized to detain enemy combatants in connection with such conflict regardless of their place of capture.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1071: Protecting America's Communities Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1071/
MLA
"S. 1071: Protecting America's Communities Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1071/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1071, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1071/.
Markdown link
[S. 1071: Protecting America's Communities Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1071/)
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