Following ICE Misconduct, Rep. Stevens Introduces the Hold ICE Accountable Act to Create Independent Oversight of DHS

March 27, 2026

Washington, D.C. — Today, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens introduced the Hold ICE Accountable Act, legislation to establish an independent Special Prosecutor to investigate unlawful conduct by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In January 2026, ICE agents fatally shot two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis. Neither had a criminal record and public evidence has raised significant questions about the circumstances. In addition, recent reports have raised alarm over DHS and ICE practices, including excessive force, wrongful detention, racial profiling, and more than 40 deaths in ICE custody since the start of the Trump Administration.

The legislation creates a clear process to appoint an independent Special Prosecutor to investigate alleged illegal conduct by DHS personnel that occurred after January 19, 2025.

“No one is above the law. Period,” said Rep. Stevens. “The American people deserve confidence that ICE officers will be investigated fairly and thoroughly, no matter who is involved. Every single one of Trump’s ICE officials, from the very bottom to the very top, including senior leadership, must face justice for the crimes they commit. ”

Following the model of the 1978 Ethics in Government Act, the Hold ICE Accountable Act would:

Allow the U.S. Attorney General or any State Attorney General to request a Special Prosecutor with the authority to investigate alleged illegal activity by DHS officers and employees occurring after January 19, 2025.
Establish a process to appoint the Special Prosecutor, who must be independent, have no ties to the current administration, and demonstrate integrity, impartial judgment, and relevant experience.
Grant full investigative and prosecutorial authority, equivalent to that of a United States Attorney, including the power to pursue related offenses such as perjury, obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence, and witness intimidation.
Authorize the Special Prosecutor to hire staff necessary to carry out their duties.
Ensure independence from Trump’s Department of Justice while maintaining oversight by Congress and the courts.
Protect the Special Prosecutor from political retribution, allowing for removal by the Attorney General only for good cause—such as misconduct or incapacity—with any removal subject to judicial review. A Special Prosecutor improperly removed may be reinstated.
Eliminate qualified immunity for any DHS officer or employee indicted by the Special Prosecutor, allowing for civil actions against ICE officers and strengthening accountability.

Stevens has been leading the fight to hold ICE accountable in Congress and to rein in Donald Trump’s repeated abuses of power during his Administration.

Stevens called for the immediate removal of Secretary Kristi Noem and cosponsored an effort to impeach her in the House of Representatives.
Following Secretary Noem’s removal, Stevens called on the Senate to delay confirmation of Noem’s successor unless ICE reforms were secured.
Stevens and her Michigan colleague, Rep. Hillary Scholten visited an ICE detention facility in Baldwin, Michigan, to tour conditions and demand answers to their letter over the death of detainee Nenko Gantchev in ICE custody in December. Following their visit, Stevens and Scholten doubled down on their demands for answers from ICE and Secretary Noem.
Stevens cosponsored H.R. 7163, a proposal to divert ICE’s $75 billion slush fund to state and local law enforcement agencies. Stevens also voted against the “One Big Beautiful Bill” which authorized the slush fund in the first place.
Last year, Stevens cosponsored the VISIBLE Act to prohibit ICE agents from wearing masks and concealing their identities.
Stevens joined over 150 of her colleagues in demanding that ICE end its surge of officers in Minnesota and conduct a thorough investigation into the death of Renee Nicole Good at the hands of an ICE agent.
Stevens introduced the Stop Trump’s Abuse of Power Act, legislation to prevent the President from deploying the military against Americans without express consent from state officials, an authoritarian tactic this President has used repeatedly to fuel fear and intimidation during aggressive ICE crackdowns.
Stevens voted against the Laken Riley Act, which would sweep thousands of people into jails and detention centers at enormous taxpayer expense while diverting key law enforcement resources and potentially violating civil liberties.

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