Sponsors (5)
The bill increases near‑real‑time transparency and public oversight of DHS deportation and transport flights (including contractor flights), improving accountability and legal/family access, at the cost of detainee privacy risks, contractor commercial and operational concerns, potential operational/security impacts for DHS, and added administrative expense.
Taxpayers and the public gain near‑real‑time transparency about DHS deportation/transport flights (including contractor‑operated flights) because the bill requires flight information to be disclosed within 72 hours.
Immigrants, journalists, advocates, researchers, and legal representatives benefit from improved oversight and accountability because accessible flight records enable pattern analysis (routes, frequency, volumes) and quicker location of people for legal defense and family contact.
The public gains clearer visibility into the use of private aircraft contractors by ICE/CBP because operators cannot withhold flight‑related information in enforcement-related transfers, improving contractor accountability.
Immigrants and detainees face heightened privacy and safety risks because publishing flight details and per‑detainee demographic/restraint data could expose sensitive personal information and enable targeting.
Federal agencies and operations may face security and logistics problems because detailed public disclosure of flight and aircraft identifiers can interfere with law‑enforcement operations, reduce contractor willingness to work with DHS, and raise costs or reduce availability of contracted flights.
Private aircraft owners/operators (including small businesses) risk commercial confidentiality and business harm because required disclosure of flight information could reveal sensitive operational or commercial details.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires DHS to publish within 72 hours detailed flight and detainee data for each aircraft operation that transports persons in immigration custody and prevents withholding of such data for certain private aircraft.
Introduced January 21, 2026 by Jasmine Crockett · Last progress January 21, 2026
Prohibits private aircraft used by or under contract with ICE, CBP, or otherwise carrying DHS immigration detainees (and that receive federal funding) from obtaining withholding of flight-related information; and requires the Department of Homeland Security to publish detailed flight and detainee data within 72 hours after each DHS aircraft operation that detains, deports, or transports people in immigration custody. The required public data include flight times and locations, aircraft identifiers, counts of detainees boarding and deplaning, basic per-detainee demographics (nationality, sex, age bins, family composition), and types/quantities of restraints used on each flight leg.