DHS Use of Force Transparency Act of 2026

The DHS Use of Force Transparency Act of 2026 proposes to increase congressional oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by requiring the agency to turn over comprehensive records related to specific use-of-force incidents. If enacted, the Secretary of Homeland Security would have 30 days to provide relevant House and Senate committees with all documents, data, and recordings concerning any officer-involved shooting resulting in injury or death, as well as any death occurring in DHS custody since January 20, 2025.

The materials required for disclosure would include body-worn and dashboard camera footage, surveillance recordings, and internal investigative files from agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The bill also aims to secure access to witness statements, medical reports, and electronic communications between federal leadership and local law enforcement regarding these incidents. To ensure maximum transparency, the bill specifies that these records should be produced in unredacted form whenever legally possible.