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Congressman Dwight Evans and Colleagues Introduce Oversight Access Act of 2026 to Enhance ICE Facility Scrutiny

Congressman Dwight Evans and Colleagues Introduce Oversight Access Act of 2026 to Enhance ICE Facility Scrutiny

Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-03), alongside Representatives Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), and Summer Lee (PA-12), has introduced the Oversight Access Act of 2026. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation aims to expand congressional oversight at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. The bill specifically seeks to allow members of Congress to bring one staff member, such as an interpreter or policy expert, into ICE facilities during unannounced oversight visits. This initiative comes in response to concerns about inhumane and potentially deadly conditions reported in ICE detention centers, and instances where congressional staff were denied entry during previous oversight visits, limiting effective communication with detainees. The proposed act would remove the requirement for prior notice for a Member or employee to enter facilities operated by or for the Department of Homeland Security, prohibit temporary modifications to facilities that could alter...
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Pittsburgh-area lawmakers introduce ICE oversight act. What it means

Pittsburgh-area lawmakers introduce ICE oversight act. What it means

Pittsburgh-area lawmakers introduced legislation that would change how oversight visits at immigrant detention facilities are conducted.
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Congresswoman says target of ICE operation in fatal Maine shooting wasn't up for removal

Congresswoman says target of ICE operation in fatal Maine shooting wasn't up for removal

A Democratic congresswoman says the person Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents targeted in Maine last month when an officer shot and killed a motorist was not subject to a final removal order
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ICE Coordinated with Iranian Regime for Deportation Flights Amidst U.S. War Preparations

ICE Coordinated with Iranian Regime for Deportation Flights Amidst U.S. War Preparations

Internal emails from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), reveal that ICE agents coordinated directly with Iranian government officials to deport over 100 Iranian nationals. This coordination occurred while the United States was preparing for and engaged in conflict with Iran. The emails, spanning from May to November of last year, detail the planning and execution of three charter flights that transported deportees to Tehran. This marks a significant reversal of decades-long U.S. immigration policy, which typically allowed Iranians to remain in the U.S. due to the lack of diplomatic relations and fears of persecution in Iran. The communications show pressure from high-ranking Trump administration officials to facilitate these flights, with some coordination occurring through Qatari intermediaries and at times directly with Iranian officials. One incident detailed in the emails involved an Iran...
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US appeals court blocks Trump immigration enforcement near some houses of worship

US appeals court blocks Trump immigration enforcement near some houses of worship

By Nate Raymond Aug 18 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday upheld an order limiting federal immigration enforcement at eight houses of worship affiliated with three faith groups, saying religious activities at the sites could be hindered by the operations. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S.
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US judge allows Trump to end thousands of Ethiopians' deportation protections

US judge allows Trump to end thousands of Ethiopians' deportation protections

By Nate Raymond BOSTON, Aug 18 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Tuesday allowed U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to end legal protections granted to over 5,000 Ethiopians that have allowed them to live and work in the United States. U.S.
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U.S. Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Codify OPT Program for International Students

U.S. Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Codify OPT Program for International Students

U.S. Representatives Sam Liccardo, Jay Obernolte, and Indian American Raja Krishnamoorthi have introduced the 'Keep Innovators in America Act.' This bipartisan bill aims to codify the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program into law, providing long-term certainty for international students, universities, and employers. The OPT program allows international students to gain practical experience in their field of study, often serving as a bridge between education and employment in the U.S. The legislation seeks to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to formally permit practical training and employment authorization for international students, both during and after their degree completion. This move is intended to prevent abrupt policy shifts and ensure the program's continuity, which has been maintained through rulemaking by various administrations for over three decades. The bill has garnered support from a broad coalition of industry groups, universities, and immigration advocates.
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US ICE puts forward insurance plan to protect local officers making immigration arrests

US ICE puts forward insurance plan to protect local officers making immigration arrests

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has put forward an insurance plan that could protect local police officers who make immigration arrests from potential financial consequences if they are accused of misconduct while on duty.
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Senators Wyden and Merkley Reintroduce 'Audit the Pentagon Act' to Enforce Financial Accountability

Senators Wyden and Merkley Reintroduce 'Audit the Pentagon Act' to Enforce Financial Accountability

U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, alongside other Senate colleagues, have reintroduced legislation known as the 'Audit the Pentagon Act.' This bill aims to impose financial penalties on the Department of Defense (DoD) if it fails to pass a full, independent audit. Specifically, any Pentagon department that does not achieve a clean audit would face a 2% withholding of its budget, with the funds being returned to the U.S. Treasury for deficit reduction. Senator Wyden emphasized that taxpayers should not continue to provide 'blank checks' to a department that consistently fails to account for trillions of dollars in assets. He highlighted that the Pentagon is the only major federal agency unable to pass a clean financial audit, a requirement under federal law since the early 1990s and annually since 2018. Senator Merkley added that the routine failure of audits without consequences enables fraud, waste, and abuse, and that Americans deserve transparency in how their tax dollars are spent. The Trump ad...
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Representative Mike Quigley Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Restore Endangered Species Act Habitat Protections

Representative Mike Quigley Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Restore Endangered Species Act Habitat Protections

Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL), co-chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, has co-introduced the bipartisan Safeguarding Endangered Species Act (H.R. 9901) with Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). This legislation aims to reinstate the longstanding definition of 'harm' within the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which was recently altered by a rule finalized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries. The new rule, set to take effect on September 14, removes habitat destruction from the definition of harm, a principle that has been recognized since 1975 and affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1995. Friends of Animals, an advocacy group, has opposed this rollback, emphasizing that habitat destruction is a primary driver of extinction and a key reason for the ESA's original enactment. Representative Quigley stated that the bill seeks to prevent any administration from undermining this landmark law and to continue protecting wildlife and endangered species.
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Representatives McCollum and Thompson Reintroduce Bipartisan Resolution for National Nonprofit Day

Representatives McCollum and Thompson Reintroduce Bipartisan Resolution for National Nonprofit Day

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) have jointly reintroduced a bipartisan resolution to officially designate August 17 as National Nonprofit Day. This initiative aims to acknowledge the significant contributions of the 1.3 million nonprofit organizations and their 12 million employees across the United States. These organizations provide essential services at local, national, and international levels, ranging from food shelves and after-school programs to elder care. Congresswoman McCollum emphasized that nonprofits are fundamental to communities and the economy, employing over 12 million Americans, including 370,000 Minnesotans. The resolution seeks to honor these individuals and ensure the sector receives the necessary support to continue its vital work. In addition to this resolution, Congresswoman McCollum has historically collaborated with nonprofit organizations to bolster the sector and its engagement with the federal government through the Nonprofit SEAT ...
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Blanche refuses to pledge DOJ independence from White House

Blanche refuses to pledge DOJ independence from White House

Todd Blanche declined to pledge Justice Department independence, saying he would take President Donald Trump's views into account on prosecutions.