Representative Min Introduces RECOUP Act to Hold DHS Accountable for Costs Imposed on Local Communities
Washington, D.C. — Representative Dave Min introduced the Recovering Expended Costs from Operationally Unwarranted Policing (RECOUP) Act to rein in the lawless and reckless activities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by forcing them to reimburse local governments for the unnecessary costs they inflict during immigration enforcement actions. Specifically, this bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to reimburse state and local governments when their federal immigration enforcement operations force local first responders to respond and provide emergency services, personnel, or operational resources.
“The violent and lawless activities of Donald Trump’s ICE have not only terrorized communities across America, they have too frequently led to massive costs incurred by local police, fire, and other first responders,” said Rep. Min. “The RECOUP Act is about basic fiscal accountability. When the federal government’s lawless actions force local first responders to respond, the federal government—not local communities—should bear the cost.”
“The EMS industry is strained nationwide due to increasing call volumes and inadequate funding. Yet, our members continue to respond to all emergencies to which they are called, no matter who is calling,” said Alanna Badgley, IAEP External Affairs Coordinator. “This bill assures that any additional strain put on the EMS system from federal actions will be properly reimbursed and that our members’ livelihoods are not further impacted from the additional burden those actions pose day to day.”
The RECOUP Act Would:
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Require reimbursement for ICE or CBP-requested assistance.
Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to reimburse state and local first responder agencies for the full cost of responding to ICE or CBP when those agencies contact first responders. . -
Create a streamlined, automatic payment process.
Requires DHS, where practicable, to collect identifying and contact information at the time assistance is provided and issue reimbursement within 30 days—without requiring the local agency to submit a formal request. -
Provide a backstop reimbursement mechanism.
Allows first responder agencies to submit a reimbursement request when DHS fails to collect information at the time of the operation, with payment required within 30 days. -
Protect local public safety budgets.
Ensures that ICE and CBP operational decisions do not shift federal enforcement costs onto state and local taxpayers or undermine the ability of first responders to meet their primary public safety responsibilities.
This bill is cosponsored by Rep. Ivey, Glenn (D-MD-4), Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. (D-NY-10), and Rep. McCollum, Betty (D-MN-4).
This bill is endorsed by the National League of Cities (NLC), The U.S. Conference of Mayors, and The International Association of EMTs and Paramedics (IAEP).
The full text of the bill can be found here.
