Restraints may not be used on a woman who is pregnant or recovering
Making further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes, section 5, Sec. 5.
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Restraints may not be used on a woman who is pregnant or recovering
The document says “may not”Who acts: Secretary of Homeland SecurityHow: statuteSec. 5 in the PDF
What the document says
“Except as provided in subsection (b), none of the funds made available in this Act may be used to place restraints on a woman in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security (including during transport, in a detention facility, or at an outside medical facility) who is pregnant or in post-delivery recuperation.”
Section 527(a). Money in this Act may not be used to restrain a woman in the department's custody who is pregnant or recovering from delivery, whether in transport, in a detention facility or at an outside medical facility. Subsection (b) allows restraints where an official makes an individualized determination that the woman is a serious flight risk or an immediate and serious threat that cannot be prevented by other means, or where a medical professional determines therapeutic restraints are appropriate.
What the document actually says
“Except as provided in subsection (b), none of the funds made available in this Act may be used to place restraints on a woman in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security (including during transport, in a detention facility, or at an outside medical facility) who is pregnant or in post-delivery recuperation.”
That sentence, in plain words
A woman in custody who is pregnant may not be put in restraints. The same holds while she heals after birth.
What this is about
The rule covers vans, cells and hospital visits. There are narrow exceptions. One needs a case by case finding. One needs a doctor.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026., Public Law 119-86, sec. 5, 140 Stat. 774 (2026). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-119publ86/html/PLAW-119publ86.htm
This page
“Restraints may not be used on a woman who is pregnant or recovering,” Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026., section 5, Sec. 5. Read the Mandate, https://readthemandate.org/homeland-security-further-additional-continuing/proposal/sec05-sec527-restraints-on-pregnant-women/ (retrieved October 10, 2026).
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