ICYMI: Representatives Tran, Salinas, Senator Merkley Hold Press Conference Introducing Bicameral Bill to Hold ICE, CBP Accountable for Constitutional Rights Abuses

U.S. Representatives Derek Tran (CA-45) and Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) held a press conference on February 3, 2026, to introduce bicameral legislation (H.R. 7297, The ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act) to hold U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) liable for violating American citizens’ constitutional rights. The lawmakers were joined by Robert Simon and Cynthia Santiago, attorneys representing individuals whose constitutional rights have been violated by ICE, and their clients. Jonathan Longoria, a 19-year-old U.S. citizen, delivered emotional testimony recounting his encounter with ICE agents and the wrongful detention of his father. Robert Simon, as one of the featured attorneys at the press conference, represents victims of ICE constitutional rights violations and abuse. The proposed legislation would make the federal government civilly liable when a CBP or ICE officer violates an individual’s constitutional rights, allowing victims to seek punitive damages. The press conference came in response to a pattern of violent enforcement actions by ICE, including the January 2026 shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and other cases of excessive force. Representative Tran emphasized that Congress must take action to rein in troubling abuse of civil rights by ICE and CBP enforcement practices, stating that community trust in federal law enforcement is broken and accountability is needed to restore faith in these agencies.