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Congress·In Committee·about 1 month ago

House Bill Would Let People Sue ICE and CBP for Constitutional Violations

Also known as: ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Key Points

  • This bill would give people the right to sue the federal government if their constitutional rights are violated by immigration or border officers. It covers basic protections like the right to privacy, free speech, and the right to be safe from unfair searches and seizures.
  • The law specifically focuses on the actions of officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It aims to hold these agencies accountable for problems like racial profiling or searching people's property without a warrant.
  • Right now, it is very difficult to sue federal agencies because of a legal rule that protects the government from most lawsuits. This bill would remove that protection, making it easier for people to go to court if they are mistreated by these specific federal agents.
  • If a judge finds that an officer violated someone's rights, the government would have to pay for the damage caused. This would be true even if the officer was just following their agency's standard rules. The bill also allows for extra money to be awarded to punish the government for especially bad actions.
  • The money for these payments would come from specific government funds. The goal of the bill is to make sure there are real consequences for government misconduct and to help rebuild public trust in federal law enforcement.
ImmigrationCivil RightsCriminal Justice

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Jan 30, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Jan 30, 2026

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Upon enactment

If enacted, lawsuits could be filed immediately

The bill waives the usual requirement to file an administrative claim before suing, meaning affected individuals could go directly to federal court to seek compensation and punitive damages for rights violations by ICE or CBP.

Related News

5 articles
Anadolu Agency·27 days ago

US lawmakers unveil bill to hold ICE and CBP liable for constitutional violations

Rep. Andrea Salinas and Sen. Jeff Merkley introduced the ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act to create a specific cause of action against the federal government for constitutional violations by immigration officers, aiming to deter "aggressive and abusive enforcement practices."

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KATU News·17 days ago

Oregon lawmakers back bill allowing lawsuits against ICE & CBP for constitutional rights violations

Oregon lawmakers are pushing federal legislation to allow individuals to sue the government if ICE or CBP officers violate their rights. The bill would make the government civilly liable for damages, addressing concerns like detentions without warrants and denial of access to attorneys.

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The Hill·almost 3 years ago

Jayapal, Booker reintroduce bill to allow lawsuits against ICE, CBP

Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Sen. Cory Booker reintroduced legislation to waive sovereign immunity for ICE and CBP, allowing individuals to sue for constitutional violations. The bill aims to close the 'Bivens' loophole that often prevents federal agents from being held liable.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act

Bill NumberHR 7297
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(24)
D: 24

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.