Introducing a Bill to End Qualified Immunity for Ice Officers After Fatal Shootings
"A Call for Accountability: Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley's Bill to End Qualified Immunity for ICE Officers"In a bold move to hold rogue federal agents accountable, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley has introduced the Qualified Immunity Abolition Act of 2026. This groundbreaking legislation aims to end qualified immunity for ICE officers, granting victims the right to sue them for civil rights violations.
The bill comes on the heels of two tragic incidents: the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother and poet, by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and the killing of Keith Porter, a 43-year-old father, by an off-duty ICE officer in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve. These senseless acts of violence have sparked outrage and calls for justice.
"We cannot stand idly by while rogue federal agents—emboldened by the Trump White House—ravage our communities, brutalize families, and kill our neighbors on the street in cold blood," Pressley declared in a statement about the bill. "Our bill sends a powerful message to everyone in America—citizen or not—that when ICE agents break the law, they should and will be held accountable."
The Qualified Immunity Abolition Act of 2026 would grant victims the right to sue federal law enforcement officers, as well as state and local officers, for civil rights violations. This legislation seeks to abolish the defense of qualified immunity in court, which has long shielded government officials from liability for misconduct.
"This unjust doctrine has allowed law enforcement officers to commit egregious misconduct or use excessive force with impunity," Pressley explained. "Our bill would help deliver accountability for families abused by law enforcement, including ICE agents."
Senator Ed Markey, who co-leads the bill in the Senate, echoed Pressley's sentiments: "With ICE agents trampling over our laws, our rights, and our communities, we must demand justice and hold wrongdoers accountable." The lawmakers note that Congress never intended to shield public officials from liability for violating civil rights.
The introduction of this legislation marks a significant step towards reforming the qualified immunity doctrine. Established by the Supreme Court in 1967, it has been criticized for allowing government officials to escape accountability for their actions. Pressley and Markey's bill aims to restore the original intent of the Civil Rights Act of 1871, which allowed individuals to sue government officials for violating their civil rights.
The passage of this legislation would be a major victory for advocates of police reform and accountability. It would send a powerful message that ICE agents will no longer be above the law, and that victims of their misconduct will have a voice in seeking justice.
As Pressley so eloquently put it: "For Renee Good, Keith Porter, Nenko Gantchev, and every death at the hands of federal law enforcement, Congress must end qualified immunity." The time for change is now.
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