ProPublica has documented immigration agents questioning American citizens’ citizenship and detaining them. Challenging the agents in court is considerably more specialized work than being challenged by them.

A bill introduced by Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández and Bonnie Watson Coleman would make it easier for U.S. citizens to sue federal agents and the government over wrongful detention. ProPublica reported October 19 that the proposal follows its count of more than 500 citizens detained in warrantless arrests during Trump’s second administration. DHS denies a pattern of detaining citizens and describes its operations as highly targeted.

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The legislation would reduce immunity protections, extend the filing deadline and establish minimum compensation for successful lawsuits. It would also reclaim unspent ICE money from Trump’s major tax-and-spending law. It is a proposal, not an enacted remedy; earlier Democratic efforts to broaden these lawsuits have failed.

Notice where the existing protection is strongest. Federal agents can claim immunity and move cases into federal court, while people alleging misconduct have only narrow routes to sue. Citizenship may have failed to prevent the encounter. Official status remains extremely useful afterward.

The bill would guarantee a minimum award to people who win their lawsuits. The government’s claim that these citizens are not being arrested could become a more expensive position to lose.