Archive · 29 Jan 2026
States push to sue ICE agents
Some states in the U.S. are trying to make new laws that would let people sue ICE agents if they think their rights were violated.
This is because some people believe ICE agents have been acting badly, and there's no good way to hold them accountable right now.
Illinois already passed such a law, but the federal government is trying to stop it, saying it goes against the U.S. Constitution.
Other states like California and New York are thinking about making similar laws.
Some lawyers and experts think this could be a big change in how the legal system works, but others think there might be problems with these new laws.
Democratic-led states are pushing for laws to allow lawsuits against ICE agents for civil rights abuses.
Illinois recently passed such a law, but the U.S. Justice Department is suing to block it, citing the Supremacy Clause.
The proposed laws aim to address what supporters call an accountability gap for federal agents' actions.
Legal experts have mixed views on the constitutionality and potential impact of these laws.
The California proposal, called the No Kings Act, is modeled after existing federal law and may have a better chance of withstanding legal challenges.
- Who
- Democratic-led states, ICE agents, U.S. Justice Department, legal experts
- What
- Legislation to allow lawsuits against ICE agents for civil rights abuses
- When
- January 2023, with Illinois law passed last month
- Where
- United States, specifically in states like Illinois, California, New York, etc.
- Why
- To address accountability gap in the U.S. legal system for federal agents' actions
- States Involved
- California, New York, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Illinois
- Key Legislation
- Illinois law, No Kings Act (California)
- Federal Lawsuit
- U.S. Justice Department vs. Illinois law
- Constitutional Provision
- Supremacy Clause
- Federal Law
- Section 1983, Federal Tort Claims Act of 1946
- Key Figures
- Governor Kathy Hochul, Tricia McLaughlin, Anya Bidwell, Vikram Amar, Jason Mazzone, Lauren Bonds
- Incidents
- Killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis
- Legal Experts' Views
- Innovative but imperfect, potential sea change