Bill · H.R. 4944· House(119-HR-4944)
Ending Qualified Immunity for ICE Agents Act
- Introduced
- 8/8/2025
- Last activity
- 8/8/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Shri Thanedar
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is titled the ``Ending Qualified Immunity for ICE Agents Act''. It aims to end qualified immunity for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The legislation proposes to amend Section 1979 of the Revised Statutes of the United States. It specifically targets the defenses used by ICE agents in legal actions. This would change how these agents are held accountable under Federal law.
Yes· 3 of 7
Would immigrants be better off under this?+5
The bill increases the ability of immigrants to hold ICE agents legally accountable for rights violations.
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?+5
The bill strengthens individual rights to seek legal recourse against government agents for constitutional violations.
Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this?+4
The bill provides greater legal accountability for ICE agents, which disproportionately impacts the Hispanic community during enforcement.
The opposite
Does this tighten control of the border?-2
The removal of qualified immunity may decrease the perceived legal protection and decisiveness of ICE agents performing border and immigration enforcement.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Ending Immunity Defenses: The bill would prevent ICE agents from using specific defenses in legal actions brought under 42 U.S.C. 1983 or other Federal laws. This means an agent can no longer claim they acted in good faith or believed their conduct was lawful as a defense (Section 2).
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Clarifying Legal Accountability: The bill removes the defense that a person's rights were not "clearly established" at the time of the alleged deprivation. This removes the barrier where an agent might argue they could not reasonably know if their conduct was lawful (Section 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Removal of Good Faith Defense: ICE agents would no longer be able to use the defense that they were acting in good faith or believed their conduct was lawful at the time it was committed (Section 2).
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Removal of 'Clearly Established' Defense: The bill removes the ability for agents to argue that the rights or privileges secured by the Constitution and laws were not clearly established, or that the state of the law made it so they could not reasonably expect to know if their conduct was lawful (Section 2).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Immigrants+5Good For Hispanic Americans+4Good For Low Income Households+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+5Improves Privacy Rights+3
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Pathway To Citizenship+3Improves Border Security-2
- 8/6/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/8/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Mike QuigleyDemocrat · Illinois
Janice SchakowskyDemocrat · Illinois