Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens proposes bill for independent investigations into ICE misconduct

Congresswoman Haley Stevens introduced legislation aimed at increasing oversight of federal immigration enforcement, calling for an independent prosecutor to investigate alleged misconduct by Department of Homeland Security personnel.

Stevens introduced the Hold ICE Accountable Act, which would create an independent special prosecutor to investigate alleged misconduct by the Department Of Homeland Security and ICE. Now the bill says the special prosecutor would need to be independent and have no ties to the current administration.

Stevens wrote this legislation after she says she was stonewalled by acting ICE Director Todd Lyons and former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. The US Representative has previously called for an investigation into the death of Gantchev two separate times. She said she never received a response.

“It will give people peace of mind, and, frankly, stop some of the lawlessness,”

The legislation comes amid heightened scrutiny of federal immigration operations following two fatal shootings in Minneapolis earlier this year. She also said it's in response to the death of a detainee at the Northlake Processing Center in Lake County.

“Members of Congress have been stonewalled,” Stevens said. “We have been stonewalled trying to get answers to deaths in ICE detention facilities.”

Under Stevens’ proposal, an independent special prosecutor would need to meet several requirements, including a separation from the Department of Justice while maintaining oversight by Congress.

“We asked about the death of Mr. Gantchev, when we were at Baldwin. We were informed that a death investigation was still going, on you know, a month and a half later we still haven't gotten the answers. and so look, we need a special prosecutor.”