House Resolution Seeks to Defund ICE, Replace Agency, and Impeach DHS Leadership Amid Abuse Allegations

Alright, let's talk about a House resolution that’s looking to shake things up significantly when it comes to immigration enforcement. This isn't just a tweak; it’s a full-on overhaul proposal, driven by some pretty serious allegations of misconduct and deaths in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.

The 'What's Happening' Rundown

This resolution kicks off by laying out a series of findings, citing specific incidents like the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Rene Nicole Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis in January 2026, and the death of ICE detainee Geraldo Lunas Campos in Texas, which was later classified as a homicide. It also points to 2025 being the deadliest year for individuals in ICE custody in over two decades, with at least 32 reported deaths. The core message here is that official accounts often clash with eyewitness and video evidence, raising questions about use of force and constitutional protections. Essentially, the resolution argues that federal law enforcement, including ICE, needs to abide by constitutional standards like the Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments, ensuring due process and respect for life and liberty.

Big Moves: Defunding, Replacing, and Impeaching

Now, for the really impactful stuff. This resolution proposes some massive changes. First off, it calls for voting against any new funding for the Department of Homeland Security and, perhaps even more dramatically, repealing the existing $75 billion funding allocation for ICE. Instead, it suggests replacing ICE entirely with a new agency within the Department of Justice. This new agency would be designed to operate with “robust civilian oversight, institutional integrity, and full respect for constitutional law.”

But it doesn't stop there. The resolution also pushes to initiate impeachment proceedings against Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and United States Attorney General Pam Bondi, along with other officials. The reasoning? Allegedly failing to uphold constitutional standards and repeatedly mischaracterizing federal actions. This is a pretty significant move, aiming right at the top leadership.

Accountability on the Ground

For those on the front lines, the resolution aims to end qualified immunity for agents of ICE. If you’re not familiar, qualified immunity generally protects government officials from liability in civil lawsuits unless their conduct violates clearly established statutory or constitutional rights, and there’s no question a reasonable officer would have known their conduct was unlawful. Ending it means agents could face civil accountability for misconduct and unlawful use of force, potentially making it easier for individuals to sue for damages. It also directs independent federal and state authorities to investigate and prosecute every ICE agent who has violated the law, with findings made public.

On the operational side, the resolution wants to prohibit practices like 'Kavanaugh stops,' racial profiling, and the militarization of ICE operations. It also calls for a clear, uniform, and enforceable national use-of-force standard for immigration enforcement agents, allowing courts to hold 'rogue actors' accountable. And for transparency, it prohibits the use of masks by immigration enforcement officers and requires active body cameras and clearly visible identification.

Detention Standards: A Human Rights Focus

Finally, the resolution addresses conditions in detention facilities. It aims to uphold human rights standards for all immigration detention facilities, including independent inspections, guaranteed medical care, mandatory reporting requirements, and enforceable protections against abuse. This could mean a significant shift in how these facilities are run and monitored.

What This Could Mean for You

If this resolution were to pass, the immediate impacts would be pretty far-reaching. For anyone who interacts with immigration enforcement, or knows someone who does, these changes could mean a very different experience. The push for civilian oversight, body cameras, and clear identification aims to increase transparency and reduce potential abuses. For ICE agents, the loss of qualified immunity and the call for investigations could significantly change their professional landscape, leading to more personal liability. For taxpayers, defunding ICE and creating a new agency would represent a massive restructuring of how federal resources are allocated for immigration enforcement. The impeachment proceedings against top officials highlight a deep distrust in current practices and could lead to major leadership changes within the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. Essentially, this resolution is a bold statement about accountability and human rights within federal immigration enforcement, aiming to address what it identifies as systemic issues through a complete overhaul rather than incremental changes.