text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Central American and USA Initiatives 
  Act'' or the ``CAUSA Initiatives Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICAN BORDER SECURITY COOPERATION 
                INITIATIVE.
  
      (a) Border Security Cooperation Initiative.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
          coordination with the Secretary of State and other appropriate 
          United States officials, shall work with the appropriate 
          officials of the Government of Canada and the Government of 
          Mexico, in conjunction with representatives from the 
          governments of Central American countries, to establish a 
          program to--
                      (A) assess the specific needs of Central American 
                  countries to maintain the security of the international 
                  borders of such countries;
                      (B) determine the support needed by such countries 
                  from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, to meet 
                  such needs; and
                      (C) assess the current structure for handling 
                  displaced minors and other vulnerable individuals in 
                  Central American countries and recommendations to 
                  improve such structure.
              (2) Consideration.--Any actions taken pursuant to this 
          subsection by the individuals referred to in paragraph (1) 
          shall be taken in accordance with the goals of advancing human 
          rights and economic opportunities, as well as programming and 
          support for the rule of law, good governance, and civil 
          society.
      (b) Report.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the 
  Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
  the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
  Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
  Senate a report on the assessments and determination carried out in 
  accordance with subsection (a).
  
  SEC. 3. CARIBBEAN BORDER SECURITY COOPERATION INITIATIVES.
  
      (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in cooperation 
  with the Secretary of State, shall work with appropriate officials of 
  the governments of the countries of the Caribbean to establish a 
  program to assess the specific needs of such countries to address the 
  unique challenges of maritime border security.
      (b) Report.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the 
  Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
  the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
  Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
  Senate a report on the assessment of needs carried out in accordance 
  with subsection (a).
  
  SEC. 4. ENHANCING THE SECURITY OF MEXICO'S SOUTHERN BORDER.
  
      (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
  coordination with the Secretary of State, shall work with appropriate 
  officials of the Government of Mexico to establish a program to assess 
  the specific needs of Mexico to help secure Mexico's southern border 
  from undocumented aliens, drugs, weapons, and other contraband. Such 
  plan shall include--
              (1) a comprehensive plan for the deployment and use of 
          technology along the southern border of Mexico, which at a 
          minimum shall contain--
                      (A) an assessment of current technology 
                  capabilities along the southern border of Mexico;
                      (B) a description of the research and development 
                  capabilities of the Government of Mexico, and 
                  collaboration between the Science and Technology 
                  Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security to 
                  help improve such capabilities; and
                      (C) a description of Mexico's technology needs to 
                  address southern border crossing transportation 
                  screening, including vehicle, pedestrian and rail 
                  screening; and
              (2) a comprehensive plan for the repatriation of migrants 
          to their home countries, which at a minimum shall contain--
                      (A) a description of the ways the Government of 
                  Mexico and the Government of the United States can 
                  coordinate with international non-governmental 
                  organizations to ensure humane repatriation methods are 
                  practiced;
                      (B) a description of the training, personnel and 
                  equipment needed to implement such a repatriation 
                  program; and
                      (C) an assessment of current and future land and 
                  rail ports of entry infrastructure that will be needed 
                  to maintain legitimate border activity along the 
                  southern border of Mexico.
      (b) Report.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the 
  Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
  the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
  Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
  Senate a report on the assessment of needs carried out in accordance 
  with subsection (a).
  
  SEC. 5. IMPROVING UNITED STATES SHORT TERM DETENTION STANDARDS.
  
      (a) Proper Access to Adequate Facilities and Personal Needs Upon or 
  as Soon as Practicable Following Apprehension and During Short Term 
  Detention at Border Patrol Processing Centers.--The Secretary of 
  Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and 
  Border Protection, shall ensure that adequate facilities and sustaining 
  needs, such as access to food and water, medical care and sanitary 
  facilities, are provided to an individual apprehended and detained by a 
  Border Patrol agent between ports of entry upon or as soon as 
  practicable following the time of such apprehension or during 
  subsequent short term detention.
      (b) Access to Information on Detainee Rights at Border Patrol 
  Processing Centers.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting 
          through Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 
          shall ensure that an individual unlawfully present in the 
          United States who is apprehended by a Border Patrol agent is 
          promptly provided with information concerning such individual's 
          rights, including the right to contact a representative of such 
          individual's government for purposes of United States treaty 
          obligations.
              (2) Form.--The information referred to in paragraph (1) may 
          be provided either verbally or in writing by the apprehending 
          Border Patrol agent, and shall be posted in the detention 
          holding cell in which such individual is being held. The 
          information shall be provided in a language understandable to 
          such individual.
      (c) Documentation Concerning Repatriated Individuals.--The 
  Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through Commissioner of U.S. 
  Customs and Border Protection, shall establish and maintain a database 
  containing the following information relating to individuals unlawfully 
  present in the United States who are apprehended and detained by Border 
  Patrol agents:
              (1) Information on the location of apprehension.
              (2) Information on family members separated by the Border 
          Patrol during apprehension or detention.
              (3) Information on the medical conditions of apprehended 
          and detained individuals during short term detention.
              (4) Information on any personal property that was returned 
          to the individual upon repatriation.
      (d) Daytime Repatriation.--Repatriations shall be limited to 
  daylight hours and avoid locations that are determined to have high 
  indices of crime and violence.
      (e) Short Term Detention Defined.--In this section, the term 
  ``short term detention'' means detention of an individual in a Border 
  Patrol processing center for 72 hours or less, before repatriation of 
  such individual to such individual's country of nationality or last 
  habitual residence.
      (f) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
  of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
  submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
  Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
  Affairs of the Senate a report on the procurement process and standards 
  of entities with which the Department of Homeland Security has 
  contracts for the transportation and detention of individuals 
  unlawfully present in the United States who are apprehended by agents 
  or officers of the Department. Such report should also consider the 
  operational efficiency of contracting out for the transportation and 
  detention of individuals unlawfully present in the United States.
target: Central American and USA Initiatives Act or the CAUSA Initiatives Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to work with Canada, Mexico, and the countries of Central America to establish a program to:   assess the needs of Central American countries to maintain the security of their international borders;  determine the support needed by such countries from the United States, Canada, and Mexico to meet such needs; and  assess the current structure for handling displaced minors and other vulnerable individuals in Central American countries and make recommendations to improve such structure.  Directs the Secretary to work with:   the Caribbean countries to establish a program to address maritime border security; and  Mexico to establish a program to help secure Mexico's southern border from undocumented aliens, drugs, weapons, and other contraband.   Directs the Secretary, through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to:   ensure that adequate facilities and sustaining needs (food, water, medical care, and sanitary facilities) are provided to an individual apprehended and detained by the Border Patrol as soon as practicable,  ensure that an individual unlawfully present in the United States who is apprehended by a Border Patrol agent is promptly provided with information concerning such individual's rights, and  maintain a database on individuals unlawfully present in the United States who are apprehended and detained by Border Patrol agents.
feat_title: CAUSA Initiatives Act