Blue States Seeking to Ease Path to Sue ICE: States of Play

Jan. 28, 2026, 7:34 PM UTC
ICE agents in Minnesota
ICE agents in Minnesota
Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg.

NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA are poised to advance legislation that would make it easier to sue federal agents for constitutional violations, putting the two states at the forefront of the Democratic response to the Trump immigration operations in US cities.

  • The California Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that would create a civil cause of action for violations of constitutional rights by government officials, including federal agents. The bill next goes to California’s Democrat-led Assembly and, if passed there, to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. The governor hasn’t weighed in on the measure.
  • New York Democrat Andrea Stewart-Cousins told reporters ...

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