Law Students Nationwide Demand Congressional Action on ICE Accountability
A coalition of law students from 109 law schools has mobilized to demand that Congress pass the Federal Officer Accountability Act, which would allow lawsuits against federal officers for constitutional violations. This movement, initiated by students from Berkeley Law, has garnered over 2,600 signatures from law students, legal academics, and organizations. The push for accountability comes in response to actions by the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, which have been accused of violating constitutional rights through arbitrary detentions and excessive force. The proposed legislation aims to extend the protections of Section 1983, which allows lawsuits against state and local officers, to federal officers, thereby addressing a significant gap in accountability.