New bill would allow families of deceased detainees to seek damages starting at $5 million as a result of a wrongful death in the detention center’s care.

To fight back against the abusive and harmful tactics used at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers, frontline candidate and Democratic nominee Derek Tran, who represents the most competitive House seat in Southern California, introduced legislation to hold privately-owned detention centers accountable.

The Private Detention Corporate Accountability Act of 2026 would allow families of deceased detainees to seek damages starting at $5 million as the result of a wrongful death in the detention center’s care.

“The Trump Administration must be held responsible for their cruel and haphazard immigration enforcement agenda,” said Congressman Tran. “With the Private Detention Corporate Accountability Act of 2026, private corporations running ICE detention centers will no longer escape accountability. When a wrongful death occurs under their care, families will now be able to receive justice and seek damages starting at $5 million. We’re sick and tired of these inhumane practices that serve as this Administration’s status quo.”

Since President Trump assumed office on January 20, 2025, half of all ICE detainee deaths occurred in privately-owned detention facilities. Congressman Tran’s legislation will establish clear liability when the actions of ICE detention facilities result in the wrongful death of an individual in their custody. The bill would impose a statutory minimum of $5 million in damages, roughly equal to one day’s worth of revenue for the largest private detention center companies. The American Association for Justice, the largest association for trial lawyers in the United States, has endorsed the bill.

Across California’s 45th Congressional District, Tran has monitored ICE activity and has led efforts in Congress to place checks on ICE’s conduct. These have included cosponsorships of the following bills:

• H.R.4176, the No Secret Police Act, to prevent ICE agents from wearing non-tactical face coverings while on duty;
• H.R.5973, The Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act, to place necessary limitations on the level of force allowed during immigration operations;
• H.R.3172, The ICE Visibility Act, to require ICE agents to clearly identify themselves and wear visible badges or uniforms when interacting with the public;
• H.R.944, The Access to Counsel Act, to protect the right for U.S. citizens and individuals with lawful status to be able to call an attorney or family member to obtain legal assistance when they are detained;
• H.R.5941, The Restoring Access for Detainees Act, to require DHS to allow noncitizens who have been detained to contact their legal counsel and families; and
• H.R.4456, Stop ICE from Kidnapping U.S. Citizens Act, to prevent ICE from using federal funds to detain or deport U.S. citizens.

Last year, Tran attempted to conduct oversight on detainee health and safety at the Adelanto Detention Center in Adelanto, California. Tran was prohibited from entering and conducting the visit, despite clear Congressional authority. Demanding transparency and accountability, Tran cosponsored resolution H.Res.996 to impeach then-U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for high crimes and misdemeanors.

###

The son of refugees who worked hard and sacrificed for the American Dream, Congressman Derek Tran joined the Army at 18 to give back to the country that has given him so much. Wanting to continue his career in public service, he ran in California’s 45th district to put people ahead of politics and protect democracy, and won. Now, he’s running again to ensure everyone, no matter what neighborhood they come from, has the opportunity to succeed without fear of their freedoms being taken away.

California’s 45th Congressional District remains one of the most contested battleground races in the country. Last cycle, Derek Tran flipped the seat by just over 600 votes (a 0.2% margin) in the second-closest and most expensive House race ($46 million spent) in the country. A majority-minority district, the District has the third largest AAPI population (41%) of any Congressional District, is 28% Latino, and is home to the largest Vietnamese community in the country. Following Proposition 50, this district brings in over 15,000 new Hispanic voters and over 7,000 new Vietnamese voters, and has a DPI of 52.8%. It includes all or part of the cities of Garden Grove, Westminster, Fountain Valley, Cerritos, Buena Park, Placentia, Hawaiian Gardens, Cypress, Artesia, Los Alamitos, La Palma, Norwalk, Stanton, Lakewood, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, and Fullerton, as well as the unincorporated community of Midway City.