H.R. 10027: Stop ICE’s Medical Neglect Act of 2026

This bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to create an online complaint system for people held in U.S. immigration detention facilities run by ICE or Customs and Border Protection to report medical neglect.

What the complaint system would do

• Let detained individuals submit complaints online about not getting proper medical care.
• Allow complaints to be filed by the detained person, their lawyer, or a family member on their behalf.
• Require the complaint to include the person’s name, alien registration number, the facility name, and a description of the alleged neglect.
• Keep complaints confidential, and prohibit sharing them without the affected person’s consent.

How complaints would be handled

• Each complaint would be reviewed by a contracted medical expert.
• If the expert finds that medical neglect occurred, DHS would have to ensure the person gets the necessary medical treatment.
• If the expert finds no neglect, the complainant could appeal to the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties for further review.
• DHS would also have to provide status updates on complaints through the online platform.

Protections for detainees

• Detainees would be protected from retaliation or other adverse treatment for filing a complaint, talking to a lawyer, or contacting congressional offices about detention conditions or access to medical care.
• DHS would have to make language translation services available to people in these facilities.

Where it would apply

The bill defines covered facilities broadly to include:

• Facilities that provide detention services under DHS contracts;
• Facilities operated by or for DHS that hold noncitizens; and
• Any temporary space used to detain a noncitizen for more than 4 hours.

What counts as “medical neglect”

The bill defines medical neglect as failing to provide timely access to:

• Medically necessary care or follow-up;
• Continuity of treatment and medication;
• Specialist referrals when medically needed;
• Medication management; or
• Processes for identifying problems in care involving illness, mental health conditions, or physical injuries.

Who would review complaints

The bill requires the reviewer to be a contracted medical expert with specified credentials, including relevant medical licensing, experience in detention settings, and the ability to provide care onsite or through telehealth.

Relevant Companies

None found