By: Ashmar Mandou

This month, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Ranking Member of a Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee, along with other members of Congress introduced H.R.10698, the ICE Shootings Transparency Act, to provide local and state law enforcement agencies unfettered access to evidence in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer-involved shootings and other use of force incidents.

“DHS lies to avoid accountability. DHS agents use reckless and unlawful force, and then DHS issues public statements justifying the use of force that are repeatedly proven false or highly misleading,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “That’s why I’m joining Rep. Salinas to require DHS and the Attorney General to share evidence related to shootings by ICE and CBP officers with local law enforcement agencies to carry out investigations. We will not stop until we have justice for every person who was killed or harmed at the hands of DHS agents. We will reimagine true safety, abolish ICE, dismantle DHS, and hold all perpetrators accountable.”

In January 2026, when ICE killed Renee Good, Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was tapped to conduct a joint investigation with the FBI. Several months later, ICE agents killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Texas and have also refused to work with state and local law enforcement. The administration’s actions have included blocking local and state law enforcement officials from accessing investigatory materials, such as Salgado Araujo’s work van and the scene of the incident.

“When an ICE or CBP agent kills or injures someone in our community, transparency needs to be the bare minimum,” said Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-06). “Since the start of the second Trump Administration, the federal government has often refused to provide local law enforcement with critical evidence in shootings and other use-of-force incidents involving ICE and CBP officers. My bill would ensure that when these incidents occur, state and local law enforcement agencies would have unrestricted access to this evidence to deliver full justice to victims and their families.”

The members introduced the ICE Shootings Transparency Act to address issues that some local agencies and prosecutors have encountered with ICE and CBP officers involved shootings that result in the injury or death of a civilian. Their bill would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Attorney General to share evidence on an ongoing basis with appropriate local law enforcement agencies related to shootings by ICE and CBP officers that injure or kill someone.

Additionally, this bill would require DHS and the Attorney General to provide access to the location of the incident to state and local law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction over the area to carry out regular investigative functions. The legislation is endorsed by the National Immigration Law Center (NILC).