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HR 5524 117th Congress House Immigration

Protecting Data at the Border Act

Introduced: October 8, 2021 Introduced by: Lieu, Ted Democratic · California See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) 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 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Oct 9, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.
Oct 8, 2021
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.
Oct 8, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Protecting Data at the Border Act

This bill limits government access to digital information at the border.

A governmental entity may not (1) access the digital contents of electronic equipment of a U.S. person at the border without a warrant, (2) deny such a person's entry into or exit from the United States because the person refused to provide access to digital content on electronic equipment or online account information, (3) delay such a person's entry or exit for more than four hours to determine whether the person will consent to providing access to online information, or (4) seize electronic equipment from a U.S. person without probable cause to believe that such equipment contains information relevant to a felony.

A governmental entity may access the contents of electronic equipment of a U.S. person without a warrant in an emergency. The entity must subsequently apply for a warrant within seven days, and if a warrant is not granted, the seized information must be destroyed and may not be disclosed.

A governmental entity may not make or retain a copy of information accessed under this bill without probable cause to believe that such information relates to a crime.

Information seized in violation of this bill (1) must be destroyed, (2) may not be disclosed, and (3) may not be received in evidence in any trial or government proceeding.

A governmental entity shall keep a record of each instance in which it obtains access to an individual's digital information at the border.

What's happening now November 1, 2022

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 2957 Identical bill Protecting Data at the Border Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Democratic 4
D
Beyer, Donald S.
Virginia · Jan 11, 2022
 D
DelBene, Suzan K.
Washington · Jan 11, 2022
 D
Espaillat, Adriano
New York · Jan 11, 2022
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Jan 11, 2022
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5524: Protecting Data at the Border Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-5524/
MLA
"H.R. 5524: Protecting Data at the Border Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-5524/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5524, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-5524/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5524: Protecting Data at the Border Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-5524/)
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