Rep. Vasquez Revives Migrant Detention Transparency Bill Amid Spike in ICE Custody Deaths
Humane Accountability Act would force ICE to report data, abuses, and notify Congress before using military bases as jails
WASHINGTON — Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., has reintroduced the Humane Accountability Act, aiming to increase transparency and accountability in the nation’s immigration detention system. The updated legislation, co-sponsored by Reps. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., and Juan Vargas, D-Calif., addresses growing concerns over human rights violations and inadequate oversight in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) facilities.
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Vasquez, a first-generation Mexican-American representing New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, announced the bill alongside New Mexico advocacy groups, including El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos, NM Comunidades en Acción y de Fe, Center for Civic Policy, and New Mexico Immigration Law Center. The district, which includes 180 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, faces significant immigration policy challenges.
“Due process, transparency, and accountability are not optional in a democracy,” Vasquez said in a virtual press conference. “This bill ensures every person is treated humanely, Congress is informed, and our constitutional values are upheld, no matter who’s in power.”
First introduced in 2023, the Humane Accountability Act has been revised to tackle new immigration enforcement issues, including reports of mass deportations and substandard detention conditions. The bill includes three key provisions:
Transparency on Detention and Removal: DHS must provide Congress with detailed data on all encounters, detentions, and removals since January 2025, including legal justifications and transfers to facilities outside U.S. territory.
Oversight of Detention Conditions: The legislation mandates reporting on abuses, deaths, injuries, lack of legal access, enforcement in sensitive locations, and the status of detained individuals.
Notification for Non-Traditional Detention Sites: DHS must notify Congress before using non-traditional sites, such as military bases or Tribal lands, for immigrant detention.
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The bill responds to reports of overcrowding, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detaining over 52,000 individuals, exceeding its 41,500-person capacity, and seven deaths in custody since January 2025. Vasquez highlighted issues at facilities like the Torrance County Detention Center in New Mexico, criticized for poor conditions.
“Every person in this country has the right to due process and should be treated with dignity,” Vargas said. “As the Trump administration ramps up attacks on immigrants, we need this bill to ensure oversight and protect constitutional rights.”
Budzinski added, “The Trump administration’s unlawful detention of U.S. citizens proves Congress must demand greater transparency from ICE. This bill establishes clear accountability measures to ensure fair and humane treatment.”
New Mexico organizations endorsed the legislation. Lan Sena, policy director at the Center for Civic Policy, said the bill addresses transparency and language access needs, reflecting her experience as the daughter of Vietnamese refugees. Fabiola Landeros of El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos called it critical amid threats of mass deportations and potential suspension of habeas corpus.
Vasquez, a former Las Cruces city councilor, has prioritized immigration reform, advocating for bipartisan solutions like the Strengthening Our Workforce Act and Smart Border Protection Act. He criticized recent DHS actions, including the closure of oversight offices, in a letter with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
A recent Amnesty International report documenting abuses at the El Paso Immigrant Detention Facility, including physical mistreatment and denial of legal counsel, underscored the bill’s urgency. Vasquez acknowledged challenges in passing the legislation under the current administration but vowed to continue its introduction.