The ACLU and state affiliates filed 54 administrative claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act across 17 states and Washington, D.C., alleging a pattern of misconduct by federal immigration agents, including excessive force, unlawful arrests, racial profiling, retaliation for First Amendment activity, and abuse in detention. One claim names Dr. Norma Bowe, who says she was assaulted while providing medical care outside a Newark detention facility. DHS disputes the allegations; the claims are a required step before potential federal lawsuits.
ACLU Files 54 Federal Claims Across 17 States Alleging Widespread ICE Misconduct
ICE walk a California detainee from a detention center. The organization is now under further scrutiny as the ACLU filed 54 claims across 17 states and D.C. against ICE agents. Blake Fagan / Getty Images
The American Civil Liberties Union and its state affiliates have filed 54 administrative claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act on behalf of people who say they were harmed by federal immigration enforcement operations. The coordinated filings, which span 17 states and Washington, D.C., mark a substantial legal effort to challenge alleged abuses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal immigration agents.
Allegations and Notable Claims
The ACLU says the filings allege a pattern of misconduct that includes excessive force, unlawful arrests, racial profiling, retaliation against people exercising First Amendment rights, and mistreatment while in detention. Among the claims is one filed on behalf of Dr. Norma Bowe, a New Jersey nurse and Kean University professor who alleges she was assaulted by federal agents while providing medical care outside Delaney Hall, an immigration detention facility in Newark.
Other claimants include U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who contend they were wrongfully detained or subjected to aggressive enforcement actions despite having legal status. The ACLU described the coordinated submissions as one of the organization s largest legal efforts targeting federal immigration operations.
Government Response and Next Steps
The Department of Homeland Security disputed the allegations, defending its enforcement activities and criticizing the ACLU s characterization of operations. DHS said its officers are trained to enforce immigration laws while protecting public safety and complying with federal law.
Administrative claims are not lawsuits. Federal agencies are generally given an opportunity to review and respond to FTCA claims before claimants may file suit in federal court. If a claim is denied or not resolved within the statutory review period, the claimant may then seek damages through federal litigation.
Context
The filings come amid heightened national debate over immigration enforcement and after years of civil rights groups mounting legal challenges to ICE tactics. The ACLU s nationwide action aims to identify systemic problems and to create a pathway for accountability through the courts.
Disclosure: The ACLU announced the claims in a press release. The allegations in these administrative filings have not been adjudicated and remain claims until resolved by DHS or challenged in federal court.
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