California Senate Passes 'No Kings Act' to Simplify Lawsuits Against Federal Officers

The California Senate has passed a bill designed to simplify the process for individuals to sue federal officers for alleged civil rights violations. The measure, known as the "No Kings Act," advanced to the Assembly following a 30-10 party-line vote.

'No Kings Act' Details

The bill, authored by Democratic Senators Scott Wiener and Aisha Wahab, gained additional relevance following an incident in Minnesota where federal agents shot a U.S. citizen.

Senator Wiener stated that constitutional rights should allow for accountability when violated.

Related Legislative Efforts

This bill is part of a broader set of legislative proposals in California aimed at addressing federal immigration enforcement practices and protecting immigrant communities. Other bills under consideration include:

A bill by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan seeks to prevent local law enforcement officers from simultaneously working as federal immigration agents, citing concerns about accountability and transparency.

Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes introduced legislation to prohibit federal immigration agents from conducting unannounced arrests in courthouses. This follows a federal judge's order halting civil arrests in Northern California immigration courts.

Senator Susan Rubio's bill proposes allowing remote appearances for most civil or criminal state court hearings until January 2029, a measure also aimed at courthouse protections.

Assemblymember Matt Haney's bill proposes a 50% tax on profits generated by immigration detention centers within California.

Context and Perspectives

These legislative actions build on previous laws enacted last year to counter federal deportation initiatives. Shiu-Ming Cheer, Deputy Director at the California Immigrant Policy Center, described these new proposals as "practical solutions that are squarely within the state’s control" and highlighted an increased urgency from the state Legislature.

Republican Senator Tony Strickland criticized these measures, characterizing them as an overstep on federal priorities and arguing that the state should focus on California-specific issues and reconsider "sanctuary" policies.

Kevin Johnson, an immigration law professor at UC Davis, noted that state and local governments are navigating resistance to federal enforcement amidst threats of funding withdrawal from sanctuary jurisdictions, with California escalating its resistance as federal tactics increase.