D.C. Included in Nationwide Legal Campaign Challenging Federal Immigration Enforcement

July 30, 2026

The American Civil Liberties Union and its state affiliates have filed 54 legal claims across 17 states and Washington D.C. under the Federal Tort Claims Act, alleging violence, abuse, and misconduct by federal immigration agents. The claims represent individuals including U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and noncitizens who report experiencing excessive force, unlawful detention, racial profiling, and denial of medical care during immigration enforcement operations. This coordinated effort accompanies an ACLU report that examined over 1,200 immigration enforcement incidents, finding that more than 400 involved alleged misconduct.

Who is affected

54 claimants across 17 states and the District of Columbia
29 U.S. citizens (including 12 alleging racial profiling or unlawful detention)
Lawful permanent residents
Noncitizens
Dr. Norma Bowe, a registered nurse and public health professor at Kean University
Willy Wender Aceituno, a U.S. citizen from North Carolina
14 clients who experienced abuse while in immigration detention
13 individuals alleging retaliation for exercising First Amendment rights
People visiting loved ones at immigration detention facilities

What action is being taken

The ACLU and its state affiliates are filing 54 legal claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act
Claimants are exhausting the administrative process before potential federal court litigation
The ACLU is maintaining an online database identifying where claims have been filed
The organization is fighting back "at every turn" against the administration's immigration enforcement practices

Why it matters

This represents one of the ACLU's largest coordinated efforts to seek compensation for individuals allegedly harmed during immigration enforcement, challenging what the organization characterizes as widespread federal agent misconduct and a "perceived sense of impunity." The cases reveal allegations of constitutional violations affecting not only noncitizens but also U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, raising concerns about racial profiling, excessive force, and violations of First Amendment rights. The ACLU contends these incidents demonstrate a systemic nationwide pattern that threatens to make "everyone in America less safe and less free," making accountability essential to protect freedom and dignity for all.

What's next

Each claimant must complete the administrative process before pursuing litigation in federal court if the government denies their claim or does not respond within the required period
Additional filings could follow beyond the current 54 claims

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer