Homeland Security Committee

The Oversight Access Act prohibits the Secretary of Homeland Security from blocking Members of Congress or their staff from entering immigration detention facilities for oversight purposes. The bill also forbids requiring advance notice for these visits and bans any temporary changes to a facility that would alter what visitors observe compared to normal conditions. If the Inspector General determines that the Secretary has significantly failed to follow these rules, they must report the violation to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees within 30 days.

The Stop ICE Price Gouging Act caps the prices of goods sold in commissaries at immigration detention facilities, limiting markups to 5 percent for essential items like hygiene products and communication supplies, and 35 percent for nonessential items. The bill prohibits additional service fees, commissions, or revenue-sharing arrangements between contractors and government agencies. If a detainee is overcharged, the agency must provide a refund, or if that is not possible due to transfer or release, the excess funds are deposited into a new Detainee Welfare Fund dedicated to purchasing recreational, educational, and electronic items for detainees. Enforcement involves regular audits by the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General and quarterly compliance reports submitted to Congress, while allowing states to maintain stricter price limits if they exist.

The Stop ICE's Medical Neglect Act of 2026 requires the Department of Homeland Security to create an online system where detained individuals, their lawyers, or family members can confidentially report medical neglect at immigration detention facilities. Under this bill, an independent medical expert would review each complaint to determine if neglect occurred, ensuring necessary treatment is provided if the claim is valid while allowing for an appeal process if it is denied. The legislation also mandates that detainees cannot face retaliation for filing complaints or seeking medical care and must have access to language translation services. Additionally, the law defines specific criteria for what constitutes medical neglect, such as failures in providing timely care, medication management, or specialty referrals.

The No PREJUDICE Act prohibits Department of Homeland Security officers from detaining, arresting, or investigating individuals based on their race, ethnicity, job, or use of a non-English language or an accented English. It specifically bans profiling at locations like bus stops or agricultural sites and forbids targeting people for hobbies or careers. If someone in immigration removal proceedings claims they were stopped for these reasons, they can request a court hearing to prove the violation. A judge who finds the profiling unlawful must dismiss the removal case, while the case continues only if no violation is found.

The Safe Spaces for All Act expands funding for nonprofit organizations to hire security personnel, including off-duty police officers. It allows these groups to use grant money to cover the costs of applying for the funds, provided such expenses do not exceed 5% of the total grant amount. By amending the existing Homeland Security Act, the bill directly affects nonprofits that currently seek DHS grants for safety and security purposes. This change aims to broaden the scope of eligible security measures and reduce administrative barriers for applicants.