Department of Homeland Security Accountability Act of 2026

Homeland Security notice and investigations

This bill would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to notify specific congressional committees and the Representative and Senator for the location within 72 hours. It would apply when a serious bodily injury or death occurs in DHS custody or results from any DHS employee, contractor, or agent. Notices would list date, time, place, circumstances, the person’s nationality, DHS components involved, medical-assistance timing, descriptions of force or de-escalation, firearm or less-lethal device details, injuries to DHS employees, and agencies participating in an investigation. DHS would lead an investigation outside the chain of command, preserve related video for at least five years after the investigation ends, obtain any autopsies performed, conduct mortality and medical-treatment reviews, and place employees who inflicted serious injury or used lethal force on administrative leave until the investigation is done. The Secretary would send a report to the listed congressional committees no later than seven days after the investigation is completed. These rules would take effect seven days after enactment.