Democratic lawmakers are proposing new legislation to “drastically scale back” the detention of illegal immigrants across the country, which would also result in the release of any illegal immigrants who claim to be LGBTQ.
The “Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act” would end detention that is considered mandatory for many illegal immigrants, including members of the LGBTQ community, Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal announced Wednesday. And Immigration and Customs Enforcement sources told The Daily Wire it will create a gaping loophole allowing for the release of illegal immigrants en masse.
One ICE source quipped that “almost every” illegal immigrant detainee will now say they’re gay or transgender “just to get released.”
“It would spread like wildfire,” the source said.
Another agency source called the move a “f*cking joke,” adding that, “It’s gonna turn into bail reform like New York. Criminals just released because their feelings are hurt.”
NEW: Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) is set to introduce “The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act,” which would DESTROY the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to arrest and hold dangerous illegal aliens.
The bill already has 123 Democrat co-sponsors.
“This bill brings… pic.twitter.com/7o8B3PONIz
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) December 3, 2025
In Jayapal’s own words, the proposed legislation “overhauls the detention system,” and “drastically scales back the use of detention.” The bill has the “unprecedented” backing of 123 Democratic cosponsors, Jayapal said.
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The bill would also end ICE’s use of privately-run detention centers, which hold thousands of the agency’s detainees, while preventing it from detaining children and families. Along with the LGBTQ community, anyone who is above 60 years old or has a “serious” mental or physical illness, or is a pregnant woman, can be released from detention under the bill.
“This bill brings dignity, justice, oversight, and accountability to the detention system by repealing mandatory detention, prohibiting the detention of families and children in family detention, phasing out the use of private detention facilities and jails, and requiring DHS to establish civil detention standards,” Jayapal told reporters during a press conference Wednesday while joined by anti-Israel activist and former ICE detainee Mahmoud Khalil.
“The bill creates a presumption of release and imposes a higher burden of proof to detain primary caregivers and vulnerable populations. The bill also mandates the DHS Inspector General to conduct unannounced inspections and requires DHS to admit Members of Congress to detention facilities for unannounced inspections,” she said.
