Kelly, Gallego Introduce Bicameral Bill to Increase ICE Accountability and Keep Communities Safe

Raises standards for ICE operations to protect communities and ensure public safety

Read more about it here

Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced the bicameral Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act, legislation to set clear use-of-force standards, increase transparency, and strengthen accountability for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations-protecting communities while ensuring officers can safely address public safety and national security concerns.

The Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act ensures ICE enforcement aligns with current Department of Justice (DOJ) use-of-force standards by emphasizing de-escalation and limiting deadly force, and establishes an affirmative duty to render medical aid. The bill would also encourage allowing state or local investigations into excessive force incidents.

"With a budget larger than the U.S. Marine Corps and massive operations in U.S. cities, ICE has to be held to a higher standard. Under this administration, we've seen ICE harass and use deadly force against American citizens with zero accountability, creating more chaos that makes communities less safe. That isn't acceptable. Arizonans deserve immigration enforcement that is effective and follows the law," said Senator Kelly. "This bill sets clear standards for the use of force that follows other federal law enforcement agencies, while ensuring training and transparency so that ICE is accountable to the American people."

"The shooting of Renee Good and horrific violence we're seeing from ICE agents in Minnesota and across the country is a disgrace and completely avoidable. We can secure the border and enforce immigration laws without terrorizing communities, racial profiling, or putting innocent people in danger. But the Stephen Miller approach is about stoking fear in our communities and causing harm to innocent people," said Senator Gallego. "We need to reform and restrain ICE to make sure it is targeted, professional, accountable, and focused on deporting dangerous criminals. This bill will bring much-needed accountability and restraint to stop Trump's under-trained goon squads from sowing chaos in our communities and to ensure this needless violence never happens again."

"In May, ICE agents stormed into Buona Forchetta, a small neighborhood restaurant in San Diego. They threw the owner against the wall, handcuffed all employees, and even used flash-bang grenades on bystanders outside the restaurant. And just last week in Minneapolis, we watched ICE fatally shoot Renee Good, a mother of three; the horrific result of armed agents operating without sufficient training or accountability," said Representative Peters. "It's clear ICE's actions don't make us safer. If anything, they're making us less safe. Immigration enforcement should not be militarizing our streets and using unchecked force. Congress must act to rein in ICE immediately. We can't wait for the next tragedy."

Companion legislation was introduced in November in the House by Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA-50), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-8).

The legislation comes amid concern over increasingly aggressive enforcement tactics by ICE, including the January 7, 2026, ICE-involved shooting that killed Renée Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Under President Trump, federal agents have been captured using excessive force against non-violent American citizens, immigrants, journalists, protesters, priests, and others. There has been a significant increase in the careless use of harmful equipment like flash bangs, pepper balls, and tear gas. During a 60 Minutes interview, President Trump was asked about violent examples of immigration enforcement and stated that immigration raids have "not gone far enough." Communities should be able to trust federal law enforcement and not be in fear they could be mistreated or face excessive force.

See what Arizona leaders are saying in support of the legislation:

"No community should be subjected to fear, intimidation or violence in the name of immigration enforcement. The unchecked violence, masked agents, and excessive use of force is creating fear and chaos in our communities. Thank you to Senator Kelly for leading this effort because dignity, due process, accountability, and respect for human life must come first," said Tucson Mayor Regina Romero.

"Trust between law enforcement and the community is built through consistency and accountability," said Phoenix City Councilmember Kevin Robinson, retired senior law enforcement executive. "I appreciate Senator Kelly's leadership in the Senate to move this forward. Clear standards and transparency help ensure enforcement is conducted responsibly and with respect for the people it affects."

"The excessive force being exercised by ICE and the lack of transparency being exhibited by this anonymous masked force, which is terrorizing individuals and ripping at the fabric of our communities, stands in opposition to policing norms, it also serves as an instrument to dehumanize those that it encounters. The Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act addresses the excesses of ICE and is a first step in rebuilding trust in the community. Passage would also signal that this country believes in upholding the constitutional rights of each individual and has regained its moral compass," said Rev. Dr. Cathy Clardy Patterson, Founding Pastor Fountain of Life Church, Scottsdale, AZ.

"We know from years of organizing that Arizonans shouldn't live in fear of federal law enforcement that lacks clear rules or accountability. We thank Senator Kelly in leading this effort in the Senate. This bill is an opportunity to usher in real change by setting clear rules and transparency, so communities aren't left in the dark and families treated with dignity," said Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director, Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA).

"Recent tragic events have made painfully clear that this administration has abandoned even the pretense of accountability for law enforcement and prioritization of public safety in favor of a politically driven pursuit of deportation numbers. These incidents have eroded trust in our immigration enforcement and underscored the urgent need to professionalize U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This bill would raise standards, strengthen training and oversight, and restore credibility and public trust that ICE so desperately needs after years of damaging practices and lack of transparency," said Third Way.

"Many of UNITE HERE Local 11's members look like the people targeted by ICE. As Trump's masked agents continue to use racial profiling and violence to separate families and ravage our communities many live in constant fear, no matter our immigration status. No family should live in fear to bring their kids to school, visit a doctor, or go to work. The Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act is necessary to fight back against the fascism taking over our country and we are proud to stand with our brave elected leaders who are putting it forward," said Susan Minato, Co-President, UNITE HERE Local 11.

"In Arizona, families should not fear masked agents, excessive force, or intimidation simply for living their lives. We've seen firsthand how aggressive, unaccountable immigration enforcement destabilizes families, schools, and entire neighborhoods. We commend Senator Mark Kelly for his leadership in advancing legislation that restores dignity and ensures constitutional rights are protected for all Americans regardless of immigration status while keeping families, officers, and communities safe," said Reyna E. Montoya, Founder & CEO, Aliento.

Background:

The Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act sets clear standards, transparency, and accountability for ICE officers to conduct their operations while ensuring public safety. It would:

• Set clear use-of-force standards by limiting deadly force to situations where there is "no reasonably effective, safe, and feasible alternate."
• Limit the discharging of firearms under certain circumstances, such as limiting discharging of firearms on a moving vehicle where other objectively reasonable options exist, including moving out of the path of the vehicle.
• Require federal immigration personnel to intervene and report if they witness other personnel using excessive force.
• Strengthen mandatory training, updating agencies' use-of-force policies, de-escalation guidance, and camera compliance protocols and mandating annual training on use-of-force, de-escalation, First and Fourth Amendment rights, preventing racial profiling, and duties to render medical aid.
• Restrict the use of certain prohibited equipment such as tear gas, flash-bangs, and pepper balls.
• Require clear identification by limiting the use of face masks and requiring clear uniform standards for identification.
• Require body-worn and vehicle cameras for immigration law enforcement.
• Establish biannual requirement for DHS and DOJ to report on force incidents, assaults, mask/uniform use, and impersonations, and create DHS databases documenting use of force, significant incidents, civil rights allegations, and training/certification for restricted equipment.
• Ensure accountability and coordination by requiring DHS Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the DHS Office of Inspector General, and DOJ Office of the Inspector General to investigate policy violations and by requiring advance notice to state and local authorities before operations for coordination and public safety response.

Click here to read the full text of the bill and click here for a one-pager.