Walkinshaw Introduces Bill to Require DHS to Report Serious Injuries & Deaths Caused by Federal Agents

This press release from Representative James R. Walkinshaw (D-VA) was published on 2026-06-03 and titled "Walkinshaw Introduces Bill to Require DHS to Report Serious Injuries & Deaths Caused by Federal Agents".

Walkinshaw Introduces Bill to Require DHS to Report Serious Injuries & Deaths Caused by Federal Agents

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Accountability Act of 2026 today, requiring DHS to notify Congress within 72 hours of any serious bodily injury or death involving individuals in federal custody or caused by the actions of DHS personnel such as agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. The bill also requires an independent and thorough investigation into each incident and for a report to be shared with Congress. The legislation directly addresses a dangerous gap in current law highlighted by the case of Renee Good, a Minneapolis mother of three fatally shot by an ICE officer in January 2026. Because Good was not considered physically in ICE custody at the moment she was killed, the Committee on Homeland Security never received a death-in-custody notification. She was also falsely labeled a 'domestic terrorist' by Trump Administration officials, fueling misinformation about what occurred. Walkinshaw's bill closes that loophole by requiring DHS to report these incidents to Congress regardless of custody status. Without this mandatory reporting, incidents like Good's can vanish into bureaucratic silence. Congress cannot identify patterns of misconduct, hold DHS accountable to use-of-force standards, or pass reforms to protect the public if it is never told these incidents occurred in the first place. “Renee Good’s killing was captured on video. The public saw an ICE agent pull the trigger, but under current law, even that was not enough to require DHS to formally notify Congress,” said Congressman Walkinshaw . “What happens to the cases no camera captures? What happens when there is no viral video, no public outrage, and no immediate pressure on DHS to provide answers? Congress should not have to learn about deaths or serious injuries of their constituents involving federal agents from the news, grieving families, or bystander footage. My bill makes sure DHS cannot keep deaths and serious injuries involving federal agents hidden from Congress and the American people and ensures that DHS personnel are held accountable for excessive use of force.” “When anyone is killed or seriously injured by DHS law enforcement, it is imperative for there to be a full accounting and Congress is quickly notified so a proper - and independent - investigation can take place and nothing can be swept under the rug,” said Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security . “Without this legislation, it’s possible we would never hear about heinous tragedies like the shooting of Renee Good. I thank Congressman Walkinshaw for introducing this legislation to close this glaring loophole.” The bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to notify the appropriate congressional committees and members of Congress of a serious bodily injury that includes the location of the incident, if medical assistance was sought, description of use of force and de-escalation tactics, if a firearm was discharged, and beyond. It also requires the Secretary to conduct investigations outside the chain of command of implicated officers, preserve video evidence for five years, and report findings to Congress within seven days of completion. It has been referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security. Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Dan Goldman (NY-10), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Troy A. Carter, SR (LA-02), Timothy M. Kennedy (NY-26), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Al Green (TX-09), and Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández are cosponsors of the legislation. Read the bill text here . ###