The California State Senate has approved a groundbreaking bill, dubbed the “No Kings” Act, that would enable individuals to sue federal immigration officials in state courts. The legislation specifically targets agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), creating a new legal avenue for seeking damages under California law.
The bill advances as the Trump administration intensifies its immigration enforcement actions in Democratic-led cities and states. Its passage marks a direct state-level challenge to federal authority, aiming to close a legal loophole that has largely shielded federal agents from personal liability.
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Having cleared the Senate, the bill now moves to the California State Assembly. If passed there, it will go to Governor Gavin Newsom for his signature.
The “No Kings” Act is designed to counter the limitations of “Bivens claims,” a legal mechanism that allows individuals to sue federal agents for constitutional violations but not the federal government itself.
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Over the years, courts have increasingly narrowed the circumstances under which such claims are permitted, arguing that Congress should legislate the issue.
This has left many civilians without a clear legal path to challenge alleged abuses by federal officers.
According to State Senator Scott Wiener, the Trump administration is trying to exercise unchecked power to illegally detain and deport people.
