Legal Challenges Mount for Claims Against ICE and Border Patrol
Individuals seeking compensation for damages allegedly caused by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents face significant legal hurdles. Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, those affected must first submit a claim to the agency responsible, which has six months to respond before a lawsuit can be filed. This process is distinct from civil rights lawsuits, as it involves judges rather than juries, and individual officers cannot be named as defendants. Recent cases include an undocumented immigrant in Illinois seeking $1 million after an alleged assault by a Border Patrol agent, and a Chicago resident claiming $30,000 in property damage caused by federal agents. Despite the challenges, some individuals, like a Columbia University student demanding $20 million for a false arrest, are pursuing these claims. Legal experts note that recent Supreme Court decisions have made it increasingly difficult to sue federal agents for civil rights violations.