Human Rights Watch Urges New Congress to Probe Trump Administration
Human Rights Watch calls on the newly elected Democratic-led Congress to prioritize human rights protections and exercise rigorous oversight of federal agencies.
Following the November 3, 2026, midterm elections, Human Rights Watch is calling on the newly elected United States Congress to prioritize human rights protections and exercise rigorous oversight of the Trump administration. With Democrats securing majorities in both the House and Senate, the organization is urging lawmakers to challenge abuses within the Department of Homeland Security, specifically targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.
The organization is demanding accountability for alleged laws-of-war violations, including a strike on a primary school in Minab, Iran, and extrajudicial killings in the Caribbean and Pacific. It also seeks investigations into the alleged torture of Venezuelan nationals at the CECOT prison in El Salvador. Additionally, the group advocates for the restoration of foreign assistance funding and civil rights infrastructure that the government previously reduced.
Representative Robert Garcia, the incoming chair of the House oversight committee, has signaled that his priorities will include abuses by the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Human Rights Watch maintains that restoring gutted oversight bodies is essential to prevent abusive practices from continuing with impunity.
