U.S. lawmakers demand DHS briefing on Uyghur forced labor enforcement

A bipartisan coalition of U.S. lawmakers has requested an urgent briefing from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding the enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). The request, sent to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, follows a significant decline in the value of shipments detained under the act.

According to the UFLPA dashboard, the value of detained shipments in 2025 and 2026 totaled $443.11 million, a sharp decrease from the $3.19 billion recorded in the previous two years. Lawmakers, including Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Jeff Merkley, expressed concern that reduced enforcement may allow goods produced through state-sponsored forced labor in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to enter U.S. commerce.

The committee members emphasized that strong enforcement is necessary to protect human rights, prevent American consumers from being complicit in atrocities, and ensure that U.S. businesses are not undercut by unfair trade practices.