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119-s-3891119th CongressWALLET

ICE Accountability Act

Sponsored By: Senator Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]

Introduced

Summary

Independent oversight of immigration enforcement. This bill would create a four-member, legislative-branch Commission to monitor arrests, detention, deportation, and surveillance by immigration agencies and to make findings and data public.

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  • People in custody and immigrant communities would get more transparency. The Commission would publish monthly reports, run a public website with complaint uploads and disaggregated enforcement data, and may hold public hearings.
  • Department of Homeland Security components and other immigration agencies would face stronger monitoring. The Commission could conduct on-site observations, access records and facilities without prior notice when needed, issue subpoenas with a 3-of-4 vote, and seek civil enforcement with penalties of $500,000 per day for serious noncompliance.
  • Employees, Congress, and the public gain new enforcement and accountability tools. Whistleblower protections bar retaliation for cooperating with the Commission, the panel can refer potential crimes to the Department of Justice or state attorneys general, and it can recommend reforms to Congress and oversight offices.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

New independent immigration watchdog

If enacted, this bill would create a four-member Commission in Congress to monitor immigration enforcement. The Commission would be appointed within 30 days and would pick an Executive Director soon after. It would watch arrests, detention, deportation, and surveillance, review DHS records, post monthly reports, and keep a public complaint website. The Commission could hire outside experts and get office and administrative support from GSA.

New subpoena and penalty powers

If enacted, the Commission could vote (3 of 4) to issue subpoenas and hire lawyers to sue in federal court in Washington, D.C. The Commission could seek judicial orders to force DHS compliance and could seek civil penalties of $500,000 for each day an agency stays out of compliance with serious or willful violations. The bill would allow an individual agent's noncompliance to be imputed to the supervising agency.

Protections for agency whistleblowers

If enacted, federal immigration employees would be protected from being fired, demoted, suspended, threatened, blacklisted, or harassed for providing information to the Commission. Employees who help, testify, or file complaints with the Commission would be able to use the rights and remedies under federal whistleblower law (31 U.S.C. 5323).

Commission end date and reversal rules

If enacted, the Commission would not end earlier than four years after enactment. It must end no later than 180 days after at least three of four monitors determine agencies were in substantial compliance for one year. The Commission could pause or reverse termination by a 3-of-4 vote if compliance later lapses.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]

DE • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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