Sponsors (21)
The bill increases DHS civil-rights enforcement, transparency, and language access—improving accountability and access for vulnerable communities—at the cost of modest new administrative expenses, potential procedural delays for some investigations, and privacy/coordination risks.
Immigrants, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and other DHS complainants will have clearer, more formal avenues to raise civil-rights complaints and will receive timely notice (within 30 days) and an Office determination, improving access to recourse.
All DHS stakeholders (including communities served and Congress) will benefit from stronger civil-rights oversight because the bill reestablishes an empowered Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (OCRCL) with investigatory authorities (oaths, access) and an explicit duty to review abuses and profiling.
Immigrant and limited-English-proficiency communities will get better access to DHS services and engagement because the Officer is required to lead language access efforts and community outreach.
Complainants (including immigrants and other vulnerable individuals) could face slower remedies because required referrals to the Inspector General and a seven-day IG decision window may delay OCRCL investigations and resolution.
Taxpayers and DHS budgets may face higher administrative and staffing costs because components must consult, provide resources, and support expanded OCRCL duties.
Complainants and people with disabilities could risk exposure of sensitive personal information if public posting of investigation summaries and records lacks sufficient redaction safeguards.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Strengthens and expands DHS's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties: adds authorities, timelines, transparency, community engagement, and GAO review.
Official title: To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make certain improvements in the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 2, 2026 by Al Green · Last progress July 2, 2026
Reorganizes and strengthens the Department of Homeland Security's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (OCRCL) by expanding the Office's duties, authorities, reporting, and community engagement requirements. The bill gives the OCRCL explicit investigatory powers, sets timelines for complaint handling and component responses, increases transparency and public reporting, and requires a Comptroller General review of implementation. The measure requires DHS and component heads to provide staffing, access, and information to the OCRCL; clarifies the Officer's role in equity reviews, pre-implementation assessments, language access, and participation in hiring and performance review; creates requirements for referrals to the Inspector General and appellate review to the Secretary; and expands congressional reporting obligations, including adding a House committee to certain intelligence reporting lines.