DHS Use of Force Oversight Act
Sponsored By: Representative Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
Introduced
Summary
A standardized, department-wide use-of-force policy would require Department of Homeland Security (DHS) law enforcement to use only objectively reasonable force and to prefer de-escalation. It would ban chokeholds and carotid restraints for non-compliant persons and set rules for training, review, and public reporting.
Show full summary
- Officers and agents: Would be limited to objectively reasonable force, asked to identify themselves and issue a verbal warning when feasible, and required to receive initial and recurrent training in de-escalation and tactics.
- DHS components: Would have to designate a use-of-force expert and maintain a review council to analyze incidents, improve training, and share lessons across the Department.
- Public and oversight: Would require consistent data collection and six-month public reports disaggregated by component, 24-hour briefings to House and Senate Homeland Security committees for incidents causing hospitalization or death, and ongoing Inspector General reviews for compliance.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New DHS use-of-force rules
If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary to create one DHS-wide use-of-force policy for all DHS law enforcement officers and agents. The policy would limit force to what is objectively reasonable, prefer de-escalation, require officers to identify themselves and give a verbal warning when feasible, and ban chokeholds and carotid restraints to control people resisting arrest. DHS would require initial and recurrent training on the full range of tactics, name subject-matter experts in each component, and maintain review councils to analyze incidents and improve training and policy. The Department would publish a public report every six months with disaggregated incident data and summaries of internal reviews while protecting privacy. The DHS Office of Inspector General would conduct ongoing compliance reviews, and the Secretary would brief Congress and inform the public within 24 hours after any use-of-force incident that causes hospitalization or death.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Crockett
TX • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 1/16/2026
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 1/16/2026
Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
TX • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
McBath
GA • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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