Alex Padilla: “I rise to reintroduce the Accountability for Federal Law Enforcement Act, legislation that would ensure that individuals…”

“I rise to reintroduce the Accountability for Federal Law Enforcement Act, legislation that would ensure that individuals whose constitutional or civil rights are violated by Federal law enforcement officers have access to justice. This legislation would amend 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983 to include Federal law enforcement Agencies--defined as ``public employers''--alongside State and local actors. It would create a statutory right of action allowing individuals, regardless of citizenship, to seek damages for civil rights violations committed by Federal law enforcement officers. The bill would also allow suits against Federal Agencies when their employees violate constitutional rights, regardless of whether an Agency policy caused the harm, and would waive sovereign immunity for these claims to ensure that victims have access to redress in Federal court. Importantly, the bill preserves existing defenses for individual officers, leaving the qualified immunity doctrine unchanged. In recent months, Federal law enforcement Agencies have carried out high-profile raids and operations in communities across the country, including in California, where officers have been documented using violent and excessive tactics against immigrants, citizens, journalists, and bystanders. These incidents are not isolated; they reflect a broader pattern of unaccountable conduct that erodes public trust and undermines the legitimacy of Federal authority.”