PRIA Logo™
119-hr-9883119th Congress

Private Detention Corporate Accountability Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Tran, Derek [D-CA-45]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a private right of action for wrongful death in private detention centers. This bill would let survivors sue when someone dies while held by a private detention center that contracts with the federal government and would impose large statutory damages while removing immunity defenses for staff.

Show full summary
  • Families and successors: Survivors may seek statutory damages of not less than $5 million plus economic and punitive damages, with the damages governed by the relevant State law.
  • Officers and employees: Individuals who cause such a death would be personally liable and could not raise absolute or qualified immunity as a defense.
  • Private detention centers: The facility itself would be vicariously liable for wrongful deaths of people it holds under federal contracts for alleged civil, criminal, or immigration law violations.
  • Courts and remedies: Plaintiffs may bring these suits in federal district court and may also pursue state-court actions concurrently.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Families can sue private detention centers

This bill would create a federal private right of action when a person dies while held in a private detention center. A successful wrongful-death claim would provide at least $5,000,000 in statutory damages, plus economic damages and possible punitive damages. Officers, employees, and the private detention company could be held liable, and officers could not use absolute or qualified immunity as a defense. It would define "private detention center" as a private company with a federal contract to hold people. A successor or the decedent's estate could bring the claim in U.S. district court and could also pursue State-court claims.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Tran, Derek [D-CA-45]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation