Bipartisan legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would fully fund the Department of Homeland Security for Fiscal Year 2026 while enacting targeted reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) introduced the Reforming ICE and Protecting America Act, H.R. 8173, on April 2, arguing the impasse had left TSA agents, Coast Guard servicemembers, FEMA personnel, and other frontline DHS employees in limbo during a period of heightened national security concern.
“This debate began with a legitimate call for real ICE reform, yet after weeks of political deadlock, no serious solution emerged,” Fitzpatrick said. “The right course was clear from the start: keep the Department of Homeland Security fully funded and confront the problem before us with real reform. That is precisely what this bill does. It is time to do what should have been done from the beginning: govern, reform, and protect.”
The bill’s law enforcement provisions would require ICE officers to wear body cameras, display visible identification, wear standardized uniforms, and limit the use of masks during operations. It would also mandate independent investigations of officer-involved shootings and establish training standards consistent with other federal law enforcement agencies.
On enforcement priorities, the legislation would direct ICE to focus resources on violent offenders and serious public safety threats. It would also codify probable cause and warrant requirements in key enforcement contexts and establish protections against the knowing detention of U.S. citizens without probable cause.
The bill would restrict civil immigration enforcement near sensitive locations including schools, houses of worship, healthcare facilities, polling places, childcare centers, and private residences without a warrant, except in exigent circumstances. Additional provisions would strengthen penalties for doxxing of law enforcement personnel and ensure Customs and Border Protection remains focused on border security operations.
The legislation was developed in consultation with federal law enforcement officials and members of the Problem Solvers Caucus.
“This legislation cuts through the dysfunction. It’s rooted in common sense; let’s fund DHS, keep our country safe, and hammer out real reforms of ICE,” Suozzi added.