Sponsors (29)
The bill increases DHS accountability and public safety by banning chokeholds, requiring de‑escalation training, and expanding transparency and OIG oversight, but it imposes implementation costs, privacy risks, and may constrain some tactical options for officers in extreme situations.
People who are stopped/arrested — especially people with disabilities and racial/ethnic minorities — will face lower risk of serious injury or death because DHS components are prohibited from using chokeholds and carotid restraints.
DHS law‑enforcement officers will receive standardized initial and recurrent training emphasizing de‑escalation, improving officer preparedness and potentially reducing harmful encounters for the public.
Taxpayers and oversight bodies will get ongoing independent review because the DHS Office of Inspector General will monitor compliance, helping identify systemic problems and drive reforms.
Law‑enforcement officers may have fewer tactical options in extreme, split‑second situations because bans on chokeholds and similar operational restrictions can limit certain force responses.
Taxpayers and DHS will incur increased administrative and implementation costs because components must develop new training, create personnel roles, and stand up review councils.
Individuals involved in incidents (including people with disabilities) risk exposure of sensitive details because semiannual publication of incident‑level data, even with privacy protections, could complicate investigations or privacy.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Mandates a DHS-wide use-of-force policy with training, incident review councils, standardized data collection, semiannual public reports, rapid notification for hospitalizations/deaths, and continuous IG oversight.
Official title: To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require a policy on use of force and deescalation by law enforcement officers, and for other purposes.
Introduced January 15, 2026 by Delia Ramirez · Last progress January 15, 2026
Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to adopt and implement a Department-wide use-of-force policy for all DHS law enforcement officers and agents that limits force to what is objectively reasonable, emphasizes de‑escalation, and bans chokeholds and carotid restraints against non‑compliant persons. The bill mandates training, component compliance structures, incident review councils, standardized data collection, semiannual public reporting of disaggregated incident data, rapid public and congressional notification for incidents causing hospitalization or death, and ongoing DHS Inspector General oversight. The measure focuses on policy, training, transparency, and oversight rather than funding changes. It sets regular reporting and review requirements to identify trends and improve training while protecting individual privacy in published data.