On January 9, 2026, significant legislative developments emerged regarding immigration enforcement and oversight in the United States. In Kentucky, Representative Shane Baker introduced House Bill 186, which seeks to limit eligibility for nearly all elected offices to natural-born U.S. citizens. This bill would prevent individuals not born in the U.S. or those with dual citizenship from serving in positions such as mayor and city council. Baker also proposed House Bill 259, a constitutional amendment that would extend these restrictions to higher offices, including the governor. Critics, including Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Vice Mayor Dan Wu, have condemned these measures as distractions from pressing issues like housing and food insecurity.

In a separate matter, Representatives Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) have requested that a federal judge appoint a special master to oversee the Department of Justice's (DOJ) compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. This legislation mandates the release of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The lawmakers expressed concerns over the DOJ's failure to meet the December deadline for document production and criticized the agency for extensive redactions that they argue violate the Act.

The recent fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis has sparked significant public outrage and led to impeachment efforts against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) announced plans to impeach Noem, citing her oversight of ICE operations as a basis for the action. Kelly's articles of impeachment include allegations of obstruction of Congress and violation of public trust. The incident has drawn attention to the broader implications of aggressive immigration enforcement practices, particularly in communities with significant immigrant populations.

The Department of Homeland Security has defended the actions of the ICE agent involved, asserting that they were justified. However, local officials and civil rights groups have called for an independent investigation into the shooting, highlighting the need for accountability in law enforcement practices. The FBI is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Good's death, while the political landscape suggests that the impeachment efforts may face significant challenges due to the Republican majority in the House of Representatives.