To provide for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate any unlawful action by any officer or employee of the Department of Homeland Security taken on or after January 20, 2025.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would establish a process for appointing a special prosecutor — an independent attorney — specifically to investigate potential illegal actions carried out by employees or officials of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The investigation would cover any actions taken on or after January 20, 2025. DHS is the federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement, border security, disaster response, and other homeland security functions.

The purpose of the bill is to create an independent oversight mechanism outside of the regular chain of command. By appointing a special prosecutor rather than relying on internal investigations or the standard Justice Department process, the bill aims to ensure that any alleged misconduct within DHS is examined by someone who is not directly accountable to the administration being investigated. This approach is similar in concept to other special counsel or special prosecutor arrangements that have been used in the past to investigate sensitive matters involving government officials.

This bill would primarily affect DHS employees and officers who may have engaged in conduct that violated the law, as well as members of the public who believe they were harmed by unlawful DHS actions. It could also affect immigration cases and other matters where DHS enforcement activities are contested. The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, which is the standard first step in the legislative process, and no further action has been taken yet.