Three Californians sue ICE officials under new No Kings Act

Cary Lopez, Javier Ramirez and Angel Piña filed civil lawsuits in California against immigration agents Wednesday. The cases test a state law allowing residents to sue federal officials for alleged civil rights abuses.

Senate Bill 747 took effect immediately on Tuesday. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the measure into law. The statute retroactively covers violations going back to March 1, 2025.

The measure permits civil actions against government officials at every level. State Sen. Scott Weiner of San Francisco said the statute closes legal gaps.

“When federal agents act lawlessly, they should be held accountable the same as any other lawbreaker,” Weiner said in a news release. “For too long, a loophole in the law has shielded them.”

Law enforcement groups opposed the legislation before its passage. The groups claimed the language was vague. They argued it would encourage excessive litigation.

The California State Sheriff’s Association spoke during a hearing on the measure. The group said officers making split-second decisions would fear legal blowback.

The three plaintiffs allege federal agents attacked and detained them. All three plaintiffs are United States citizens.

“We know they are not the only people who have suffered such abuses from this campaign of terror waged upon immigrants and citizens in this country,” a spokesperson for the plaintiffs’ law firm said. “We are proud that California has given people a way to fight back.”

Civil rights lawsuits allow individuals to seek remedies in court. Plaintiffs in California use these claims to challenge actions by government agents. Judges evaluate the claims based on statutory standards.

The three separate legal actions remain pending in civil court.