Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
Reforming ICE and Protecting America Act
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This legislation, titled the "Reforming ICE and Protecting America Act" or "Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026," provides funding for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. The bill allocates money across various divisions, including Customs and Border Protection, ICE, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, and FEMA. It includes the "Bipartisan ICE Reform Act of 2026," which mandates body camera usage and specific identification for immigration agents. The bill also rescinds various unobligated balances from several DHS accounts and funds. Additionally, it establishes new priorities for detention and implements oversight mechanisms for various agencies.
Yes· 3 of 20
- Scored +6
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
The bill provides $26,367,000,000 for the Disaster Relief Fund to support major disasters.
- Scored +5
Would women be better off under this?
The bill includes specific protections for the health and rights of pregnant women in custody.
- Scored +5
Does this change how police departments operate?
The bill mandates the use of body cameras for immigration agents and requires FBI investigations into officer-involved shootings.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill rescinds various unobligated balances from several DHS accounts and funds.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Pregnant Individuals: The bill mandates that specific standards of treatment are implemented to safeguard the health, safety, and rights of pregnant women in U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody (Sec. 211).
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Protection of Pregnant Individuals from Restraints: The bill prohibits the use of funds to place restraints on pregnant women in custody, except in specific, determined circumstances (Sec. s527).
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Support for Human Exploitation Victims: Funding is allocated for paid apprenticeships for participants in the Human Exploitation Rescue Operative Child-Rescue Corps (Sec. 2, Division A, Title I, ICE section).
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Enhanced Security for Nonprofits: The bill provides funds for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to assist eligible recipients at risk of terrorist or extremist attacks (Sec. 2, Division A, Title III, FEMA section).
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Increased Security for Children: The United States Secret Service is provided a grant for activities related to investigations of missing and exploited children (Sec. 2, Division A, Title I, Secret Service section).
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Firefighter and Emergency Response Support: Funding is provided for Assistance to Firefighter Grants and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (Sec. 2, Division A, Title III, FEMA section).
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Increased Accountability through Body Cameras: Covered immigration agents must wear and operate a body camera during public immigration enforcement functions, which can provide video evidence (Sec. 602).
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Protection for Victims and Witnesses: Video footage can be retained for up to three years if requested by a subject of the video, a parent/guardian of a minor subject, or a deceased subject's next of kin (Sec. 602).
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Enhanced Oversight via Independent Review: The Secretary of Homeland Security is required to establish an independent advisory panel with experts in civil rights, privacy, and technology to recommend policies for body camera use (Sec. 602).
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Increased Safety through Identification: Immigration enforcement personnel must visibly display a unique identifier, their employer's name, and their face during enforcement functions (Sec. 603).
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Investigation of Officer-involved Shootings: The FBI is required to conduct investigations when an immigration officer discharges a firearm during the enforcement of immigration laws to check for violations of law or protocols (Sec. 605).
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Protection of U.S. Citizens: The Secretary of Homeland Security is prohibited from knowingly detaining a U.S. citizen unless there is probable cause that they committed a crime (Sec. 609/610).
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Protection of Sensitive Locations: Civil immigration enforcement actions are prohibited at sensitive locations, such as schools, medical facilities, and places of worship, without a warrant (Sec. 612).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Reduced Funding for DHS Operations: The bill rescinds significant amounts of money from various accounts, including $52,349,050 from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and $18,525,975 from FEMA (Sec. 552).
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Increased Penalties for Doxxing Law Enforcement: The definition of "restricted personal information" is expanded to include items like license plates and GPS coordinates, and sentencing guidelines will be adjusted to treat offenses against law enforcement officers as an aggravated factor (Sec. 604).
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Financial Penalties for State/Local Agencies: State or local law enforcement agencies that do not comply with new immigration enforcement priorities may have up to 12 percent of their Emergency Management Performance Grant funds withheld (Sec. 606).
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Restrictions on Prescription Drug Imports: Funds cannot be used to prevent individuals from importing a personal-use quantity (up to a 90-day supply) of certain prescription drugs from Canada, provided they are not controlled substances or biological products (Sec. 205).
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Limitations on Border Crossing Fees: The Secretary is prohibited from establishing or collecting new border crossing fees for individuals crossing the Southern or Northern borders at a land port of entry (Sec. 207).
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Surveillance System Restrictions: Funds for Border Security Assets and Infrastructure may not be used for the procurement or deployment of surveillance systems that are not autonomous (Sec. 210).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would women be better off under this? — The bill includes specific protections for the health and rights of pregnant women in custody. Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill increases oversight through body cameras and restricts civil enforcement at sensitive locations like schools and houses of worship. Would children be better off under this? — The bill provides grants for activities related to investigations of missing and exploited children. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill includes funding for emergency food and shelter programs. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides funds for road maintenance on Native American reservations. Would union members be better off under this? — The bill provides a pay increase for air traffic controllers.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this change how police departments operate? — The bill mandates the use of body cameras for immigration agents and requires FBI investigations into officer-involved shootings. Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill provides significant funding for U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations and infrastructure while implementing more rigorous estimation and reporting requirements for border arrivals and removals. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — The bill allocates $123,500,000 for the emergency food and shelter program under the McKinney-Vento Act. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill funds paid apprenticeships for participants in the Human Exploitation Rescue Operative Child-Rescue Corps. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill mandates specific standards of treatment to safeguard the health, safety, and rights of pregnant women in custody.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill provides $26,367,000,000 for the Disaster Relief Fund to support major disasters. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill provides funding for environmental compliance and restoration for the Coast Guard. Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — The bill provides funds to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the maintenance and repair of roads on Native American reservations.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill increases accountability through required reporting on grants, staffing, and acquisition programs, as well as monthly reporting on migrant estimates and public availability of body camera compliance reports. Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill establishes an independent advisory panel to recommend policies for body camera use.
- Healthcare
- Does this lower the price of prescription medicines? — The bill prohibits using funds to prevent individuals from importing a personal-use quantity of certain prescription drugs from Canada.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The bill provides funding for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill provides research and development funding for the TSA, Coast Guard, and Science and Technology Directorate.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill provides a pay increase for air traffic controllers. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill rescinds various unobligated balances from several DHS accounts and funds.
- 4/2/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
6 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
- 119-HR-5653: Trust Through Transparency Act of 2025
- 119-HR-7147: Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026.
- 119-HR-7148: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-HR-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-HR-7744: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-HR-8029: Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act
Thomas SuozziDemocrat · New York