Supporters of the bill, primarily Democrats, say conditions at CBP facilities have been shown to be unsafe and unsanitary, and are not reflective of how we should treat refuges entering the United States who are seeking a better life. They say CBP has failed to provide basic health and sanitary conditions at it facilities, therefore legislation is needed to ensure a basic level of care is provided to our fellow human beings. They also argue that giving the inspector general unfettered and unannounced access to CBP detention facilities will provide an incentive for the agency to treat detainees well, and will best help Congress and the public understand what is happening at those facilities.

Opponents of the bill, primarily Republicans, say the federal government has been doing all it can to take care of the unprecedented influx of migrants, particularly families, who have been entering the United States illegally, and that the overcrowding and adverse conditions occurred simply because the system was overwhelmed. Instead of hamstringing CBP, they say Congress should work to help stem the flow of immigrants by changing U.S. asylum laws that encourage migrants to enter the U.S. in the first place. They agree that CBP should treat all detainees with respect, but say the bill is too prescriptive with a one-size-fits-all approach, and that it would be completely unworkable.