1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I urge you to support Senate Bill 747, the No Kings Act, when it comes before the Assembly. This legislation passed the State Senate on Tuesday with a 30-10 vote and would create a critical legal pathway for California residents to sue federal immigration agents and other federal officials for civil rights violations in state court. Current federal law makes it nearly impossible for victims to seek justice when federal agents violate their constitutional rights. The Federal Tort Claims Act shields the government from liability for individual officer decisions and forces plaintiffs through an administrative claims process first. This creates a two-tiered system where state and local officers can be held accountable for excessive force, false arrest, and other abuses, but federal agents operate with virtual impunity. Senator Scott Wiener cited the recent Minneapolis shootings where federal agents killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti. If state or local law enforcement had committed these acts, families could seek financial damages. Under current law, they have no meaningful recourse against federal agents. This disparity is unjust and undermines the principle that no one is above the law. Concerns raised by law enforcement organizations about undermining the Bane Act are unfounded. As Senator Wiener noted, local police officers and sheriffs can already be sued under federal law for constitutional violations. This bill simply extends the same accountability standards to federal agents operating in California. It does not change liability for state and local officers. California has already committed $25 million to legal nonprofits defending residents facing detention or deportation. Senate Bill 747 is the logical next step in ensuring due process and constitutional protections for all Californians, regardless of who violates their rights. I ask that you vote yes on SB 747 and help establish this first-in-the-nation protection for civil rights.