ICE Misconduct Lawsuit
The U.S. Constitution guarantees the rights to free speech and assembly, as well as protections against unlawful searches and seizures. Peaceful protesters and bystanders should not be subjected to physical violence by federal law enforcement officers like those of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Unfortunately, in recent months, accusations of brutality and misconduct by ICE have become common.
Were you or a loved one a victim of police brutality?
Attorneys that work with Police Brutality Center may be able to assist you.
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Content Last Updated: March 11, 2026
Over the last year, under the direction of the Trump administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have raided homes, schools, job sites, businesses, and places of worship across the country. In many cases, ICE officers have allegedly used excessive force and unlawfully detained U.S. citizens, even those who had proof of citizenship and residency, and have escalated to killing several U.S. citizens in recent months. Citizens who have been injured or detained by ICE have legal options for seeking justice and compensation.
Connect With Our Experienced Attorneys
Police Brutality Center is proud to partner with Alex Straus, Chair of the Civil Rights Department at Milberg PLLC, and Solomon Radner at Radner Law Group to help victims of civil rights abuses.
How An ICE Misconduct Attorney Can Help You
If you or a loved one is a U.S. citizen who has been physically harmed or unlawfully detained by ICE agents, you have legal protections under the Constitution and the Federal Tort Claims Act.
Under ICE’s internal policies, which were revised in 2016, staff are authorized to use only necessary and reasonable force after all reasonable efforts to resolve a situation have failed. In general, reasonable force is only appropriate to protect people, prevent escape, or prevent serious property damage. When ICE agents break policy and commit misconduct, they must be held accountable.
Can You Sue ICE for Detaining A U.S. Citizen?
While U.S. law makes it difficult to hold individual federal agents liable, victims may be entitled to seek compensation from the federal government for injuries caused by agents in the course of their work. The Federal Tort Claims Act of 1946 provides an exception to the federal government’s sovereign immunity. Through an FTCA claim, a plaintiff can allege that a federal employee acted negligently or wrongfully and request monetary damages.
Although the Department of Homeland Security has recently asserted that it does not arrest or deport U.S. citizens, countless news reports from recent months contradict that statement.
Recent Cases of Alleged ICE Misconduct
Renee Nicole Good - January 2026
In early January 2026, an ICE agent in Minneapolis fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a U.S.-born citizen. Good’s family claims she was allegedly attempting to drive home at the time of the shooting. Lawyers representing Good’s family announced they’re exploring a civil claim over her death, but that suing the federal government is a complex, time-consuming process.
ChongLy “Scott” Thao - January 2026
In January 2026, federal immigration agents reportedly bashed open the door of a Minnesota home and detained U.S. citizen ChongLy “Scott” Thao at gunpoint. The agents did not have a warrant for Thao’s arrest, but led him outside in his underwear in freezing weather conditions anyway.
Hilda Ramirez Sanan - December 2025
In December 2025, Hilda Ramirez Sanan, an immigrant with legal status via a green card, and her two American children were hospitalized following a violent detention in Massachusetts. Ramirez Sanan has reportedly lived legally in the U.S. for over 20 years and was detained while accompanying her brother-in-law to a court hearing. ICE agents allegedly shattered the family’s car windows and violently arrested Ramirez Sanan in front of her children, slamming her face-first into the ground. She is now suing ICE for $1 million in damages.
Leonardo Garcia Venegas - October 2025
In October 2025, U.S.-born citizen Leonardo Garcia Venegas was arrested and detained by immigration authorities twice, leading him to file a lawsuit against the federal government for unlawful detainment. Garcia Venegas, a construction worker from Alabama, said the arrests were unreasonable and violated his Fourth Amendment rights.
Garcia Venegas’s lawsuit is a proposed class action filed on behalf of U.S. citizens and lawful residents who were subject to ICE’s Warrantless Entry Policy and detained while working a construction job due to racial profiling.
Can You Get Compensation for Unlawful Detention By ICE?
As of 2026, multiple lawsuits have been filed against ICE. These cases are still pending. In a successful FTCA lawsuit, claimants may recover damages for pain and suffering, lost wages, mental anguish, emotional distress, and more. However, in FTCA claims, plaintiffs cannot seek punitive damages.
Know Your Rights
If ICE agents stop you in public, you have the following rights:
- The right to ask if you are under arrest or free to leave
- The right to remain silent
- The right to refuse to show immigration documents
- The right to refuse to consent to a search
- The right to speak to a lawyer
- The right not to sign anything
If you believe your rights have been violated, write down what happened with specific details like names, dates, times, and badge numbers, then report the violation to a lawyer or civil rights organization.
Steps for Filing a Lawsuit Against ICE
Lawsuits against ICE generally invoke the Federal Tort Claims Act, or FTCA, which provides one of the few avenues for people injured by federal officers to seek compensation. Still, the FTCA does not cover all misconduct by federal officers, and its discretionary function exception shields officers from liability when they exercise their own judgment or make policy-based choices.
In Martin v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a decision by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the law shields the federal government from lawsuits when its officers violate state laws. However, the Supreme Court asked the appeals court to reconsider whether the FTCA’s discretionary function exception bars lawsuits for officer conduct not directly cited in federal law or policy. If the 11th Circuit stands by its ruling, federal officers could dodge accountability for any number of illegal actions as long as they aren’t cited specifically in policy.
The first step for pursuing any legal action against ICE is to find a civil rights attorney. These cases are complex, and outcomes are not guaranteed, so working with an experienced professional is the best way to increase your odds of success.
Understand Your Rights With the Help of Police Brutality Center
If you or a loved one is a U.S. citizen and has experienced ICE misconduct via excessive force, unlawful detainment, or another violation, you have legal rights and options for seeking justice.
Contact Police Brutality Center today for more information and to get connected with an experienced civil rights attorney.