Accountability and transparency in immigration detention centers

In America, we are governed by the rule of law and the Constitution. The executive branch enforces our laws, while Congress holds it accountable.

Immigration law enforcement shouldn’t be an exception.

That’s why The LIBRE Initiative is supporting the passage of the Stop Inhumane Conditions in ICE Detention Act of 2026. This bill implements commonsense policies to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security fulfills its role.

The role of the executive is to enforce our immigration laws, especially for those with criminal records who are putting our communities in danger.

Congress’ role is to hold the executive accountable. This includes ensuring that detained immigrants are treated fairly.

Enforcement and accountability are not contradictory ideas. In fact, in America, they depend on each other. Just enforcement cannot happen without just accountability.

On immigration enforcement, the Working Families Tax Cuts (also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill) rightfully provided federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement the resources they need to do their jobs. Now, it’s time to make sure those resources are used responsibly.

Transparency and accountability in immigration enforcement

The Stop Inhumane Conditions in ICE Detention Act of 2026 would:

• Give detained migrants a secure system to report health concerns.
• Mandate DHS to conduct commonsense oversight to prevent loss of life.
• Protect detainees who have health concerns from potential retaliation.

This bill does not allow detained migrants to skirt the law, nor does it impede federal agents from doing their jobs and keeping our country safe; it just holds the executive accountable and ensures detainees are treated with dignity and according to the laws of the United States.

LIBRE Executive Director Sandra Benitez explained this bill perfectly:

“The LIBRE Initiative supports the Stop Inhumane Conditions in ICE Detention Act of 2026 because accountability is not optional — it is a constitutional responsibility. (…) Transparency is essential to effective governance and to ensure the public’s trust in our institutions.”

That’s what this bill is all about: transparency and respect for the Constitution.

A safe border and an accountable government

At LIBRE, we want an efficient government, one that effectively enforces the laws of the country. To do that, the government needs to have both the resources and leadership to do its job and (since America is a constitutional democracy) the confidence of the public.

The Working Families Tax Cuts and the Stop Inhumane Conditions in ICE Detention Act are two bills that help America improve its immigration enforcement.

Thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, the federal government finally has the funding it needs to keep our border safe and enforce our laws.

The Stop Inhumane Conditions in ICE Detention Act helps strengthen law enforcement agencies’ credibility by holding them accountable and improving transparency in detention facilities.

We don’t have to pick and choose between enforcing our immigration laws and treating those who broke our laws justly.

We can, and should, do both.