Indian American Congressman Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17) has introduced the ICE Oversight and Reform Resolution, calling for greater transparency, accountability, and adherence to constitutional protections in U.S. immigration enforcement operations.
The resolution follows a series of controversial actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents — including reports of unmarked vehicle raids and the denial of congressional access to ICE facilities — that have raised growing concerns about due process and civil liberties, said Congressman Khanna in a statement.
“These tactics are about avoiding accountability and transparency. We need standards of conduct for ICE agents and to ensure agents cannot trample on civil and human rights. I’m proud to put forth this commonsense defense of American values that we should all support,” said Rep. Ro Khanna.
Co-sponsor Rep. Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) said the measure was long overdue to curb abuses of power.
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“We have had enough of ICE abusing their powers and pushing the limits to continue terrorizing our communities. The ICE Oversight and Reform Resolution affirms the bare minimum expectations for our immigration enforcement officers. This resolution builds upon legislation like my own, the CLEAR ID Act, to further demand ICE officers disclose their identity, wear body cameras, get trained to de-escalate situations all to ensure safer interactions during immigration enforcement operations,” Crockett stated.
The resolution outlines several measures aimed at improving accountability and ensuring humane enforcement practices:
- Mandatory body cameras: DHS will require ICE and CBP personnel to wear body cameras during all enforcement operations, with footage preserved for oversight.
- Visible identification: Enforcement personnel must display their name, badge number, and agency affiliation at all times, except when immediate safety threats exist.
- Independent civilian oversight: DHS will establish civilian review boards to assess enforcement actions and recommend reforms.
- De-escalation training: All ICE and CBP officers will undergo mandatory training to manage tense encounters safely.
- Enhanced Justice Department oversight: The DOJ will strengthen its monitoring of ICE operations to uphold civil rights protections.
Other co-sponsors of the resolution include Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Rep. Jonathan Jackson (IL-01). It has received endorsements from civil rights organizations including Hindus for Human Rights, Alliance of South Asians Taking Action, and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF).
