Sponsors (3)
The bill increases constitutional protections and civil remedies for people targeted by ICE/CBP—bolstering rights and accountability—while raising litigation exposure and administrative uncertainty for federal agencies and potentially constraining enforcement flexibility and public trust.
Immigrants and others targeted by ICE/CBP can bring civil suits to obtain remedies when officials violate constitutional rights, creating a clearer path to accountability and compensation.
All people in the U.S. (including immigrants and racial/ethnic minorities) have reaffirmed constitutional protections (First, Fourth, Fifth, Fourteenth), strengthening legal standards for free speech, privacy, and due process.
Taxpayers and federal agencies could face increased litigation exposure and higher costs from more lawsuits or settlements against ICE/CBP and other federal actors.
Claimants, agencies, and the Department of Justice face legal uncertainty because Section 3's substantive amendment is unspecified, which could unpredictably expand or narrow liability and impose administrative burdens or changes in litigation practice.
Local governments and federal law enforcement personnel may see erosion of public trust and difficulties recruiting or retaining officers as allegations and findings of misconduct are publicized.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Makes congressional findings that ICE and CBP have violated constitutional rights and attempts to amend federal liability law, but the amendment text is missing.
Introduced January 29, 2026 by Jeff Merkley · Last progress January 29, 2026
Directs congressional findings that ICE and CBP officers have undermined constitutional protections (First, Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments) through practices such as racial profiling, unreasonable searches and seizures, due-process violations, and suppression of speech, and notes that civil suits can provide remedies for injured individuals. It also attempts to amend federal liability law (28 U.S.C. § 2674) to modify legal accountability for those harms, but the amendment text is missing in the provided excerpt, so concrete changes and implementation details are not specified.