Reps. Ramirez, Salinas Introduce Legislation to Require the Federal Government to Share Evidence with Local Law Enforcement in DHS Use-of-Force Incidents

Washington, DC – Recently, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Ranking Member of a Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee, and Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced H.R.10698, the ICE Shootings Transparency Act, to provide local and state law enforcement agencies unfettered access to evidence in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer-involved shootings and other use of force incidents.  

“DHS lies to avoid accountability. DHS agents use reckless and unlawful force, and then DHS issues public statements justifying the use of force that are repeatedly proven false or highly misleading,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “That’s why I’m joining Rep. Salinas to require DHS and the Attorney General to share evidence related to shootings by ICE and CBP officers with local law enforcement agencies to carry out investigations. We will not stop until we have justice for every person who was killed or harmed at the hands of DHS agents. We will reimagine true safety, abolish ICE, dismantle DHS, and hold all perpetrators accountable.”

“When an ICE or CBP agent kills or injures someone in our community, transparency needs to be the bare minimum,” said Rep. Salinas. “Since the start of the second Trump Administration, the federal government has often refused to provide local law enforcement with critical evidence in shootings and other use-of-force incidents involving ICE and CBP officers. My bill would ensure that when these incidents occur, state and local law enforcement agencies would have unrestricted access to this evidence to deliver full justice to victims and their families.”

In January 2026, when ICE killed Renee Good, Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was tapped to conduct a joint investigation with the FBI. However, shortly after the announcement, the state agency said that they had been kicked out of the investigation, leaving the investigation in the hands of the Trump Administration. Several months later, ICE agents killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Texas and have also refused to work with state and local law enforcement. The administration’s actions have included blocking local and state law enforcement officials from accessing investigatory materials, such as Salgado Araujo’s work van and the scene of the incident.

 The members introduced the ICE Shootings Transparency Act to address issues that some local agencies and prosecutors have encountered with ICE and CBP officers-involved shootings that result in the injury or death of a civilian. Their bill would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Attorney General to share evidence on an ongoing basis with appropriate local law enforcement agencies related to shootings by ICE and CBP officers that injure or kill someone. 

Additionally, this bill would require DHS and the Attorney General to provide access to the location of the incident to state and local law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction over the area to carry out regular investigative functions.

The ICE Shootings Transparency Act is cosponsored by Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Jim Costa (CA-21), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and Sylvia Garcia (TX-29).

The legislation is endorsed by the National Immigration Law Center (NILC). 

 
BACKGROUND:

Congresswoman Ramirez has led the calls for accountability of DHS and its leadership. In September 2026, Ramirez stood with Illinois public officials, civil society, and community members to announce the Reimagining Safety Act. The landmark community-led legislation would create a new human- and community-centered federal department that promotes collective safety, repeal the authorities that give the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) its power, and redirect DHS funds to programs that working families rely on. Additionally:

• In January 2026, Congresswoman Ramirez and Congressman Seth Magaziner (RI-02) announced the DHS Use of Force Oversight Act to statutorily require a DHS policy on the use of force and de-escalation by agents.
• In January 2026, Congresswoman Ramirez led 71 members of Congress to demand the House Committee on the Judiciary immediately start investigation hearings on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s unlawful and potentially impeachable actions.
• In January 2026, Congresswoman Ramirez introduced the Melt ICE Act to end DHS’s funding to detain or monitor immigrants, disrupt immigration enforcement, and redirect funding toward wrap-around services for communities affected by immigration enforcement. 
• In July 2026, Congresswoman Ramirez and Congressman Takano (CA-39) launched an investigation into reports that VA delayed processing ICE medical reimbursement claims.
• In August 2026, Congresswoman Ramirez led 28 colleagues in opening an investigation into a new data-sharing agreement between TSA and ICE that has resulted in a spike in immigration enforcement activities at airports across the country.
• In September 2026, Congresswoman Ramirez and Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04) introduced the No Shock Act to ban the use of “shock gloves” by ICE.
• In September 2026, Congresswoman Ramirez and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) led 22 colleagues in opening an investigation into the fraud, corruption, and coercion of DHS’s “Project Homecoming.”
• In September 2026, Congresswoman Ramirez led 8 members of the Illinois Congressional delegation in requesting that the Office of the Inspector General investigate Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) agents for a pattern of misconduct, unconstitutional uses of force, and potential criminal violations during immigration enforcement operations, including “Operation Midway Blitz.” 
• In September 2026, Congresswoman Ramirez joined Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) and Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02) to introduce the CISA Force Structure Assessment Act.