New INFORM Act Mandates DHS Notify Family Within 24 Hours of Detainee Transfer

If you’ve ever had to deal with the stress of a loved one being detained, you know one of the biggest headaches is simply knowing where they are. The Immigration Notification for Facility Oversight and Relocation Management Act of 2025, or the INFORM Act, aims to fix a major piece of that communication breakdown by mandating a 24-hour notification window for family members when a detainee is moved.

The 24-Hour Clock: What DHS Has to Tell You

Section 2 of the INFORM Act is the core of this bill. It states that if an individual detained under immigration laws is transferred from one facility to another, Homeland Security (DHS) must notify their immediate family within 24 hours of the transfer. This isn’t just a quick heads-up; the notice must include two critical pieces of information: first, an explanation of why the person was moved, and second, the full contact information—name, address, phone number, and a specific contact person—for the new facility. Think of this as a required digital paper trail that should minimize the stress and uncertainty families often face when a detainee disappears into the system.

Defining "Family" in the Modern Era

The bill gets specific about who qualifies for this urgent notification. Section 3 defines “immediate family” broadly, reflecting the realities of modern relationships. It includes the usual suspects—parents, siblings, children, and spouse—but also extends to step-parents, step-children, step-siblings, and foster relatives. Crucially, it recognizes legally acknowledged relationships like common law marriages, civil unions, and domestic partnerships. This is a smart move that acknowledges that not every close relationship fits neatly into a traditional legal box, ensuring that the person who actually needs the information gets it, whether they’re a biological relative or a recognized partner.

Real-World Impact: Less Guesswork, More Contact

For families, this bill is about transparency and maintaining connection. Currently, transfers can happen with little to no notice, leaving family members scrambling to locate their loved one, often missing scheduled calls or visits, and sometimes spending days or weeks in the dark. Under the INFORM Act, if a detainee is transferred—say, from a facility in Arizona to one in Texas—the family should receive a call or notification within a day, explaining the reason (e.g., "for medical evaluation" or "to balance capacity") and providing the direct line to the new location. This streamlines the process of sending legal documents, scheduling visits, or providing necessary support, making an already difficult situation slightly more manageable.

The Administrative Lift for DHS

While this is a clear win for transparency, it does place a significant administrative burden on DHS. The agency will need to implement reliable, 24/7 systems to track transfers and ensure timely, accurate notifications, especially given the broad definition of "facility" (Section 3 defines it as any detention center or temporary government property used for housing detainees). Meeting that 24-hour deadline consistently across a large, geographically dispersed system will require new protocols and resources. The bill is clear and low on vagueness, but the practical challenge will be making sure the system doesn't buckle under the pressure of constant movement.