Civil Rights on the Front Lines: Litigating Against Federal Agencies and Protecting Constitutional Rights

Civil rights litigation against federal agencies, particularly immigration enforcement agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has become increasingly complex in recent years. Attorneys representing individuals whose constitutional rights have been violated face many procedural barriers, including sovereign immunity, qualified immunity, jurisdictional challenges, and developing federal case law. 

Increased enforcement activity and policy shifts have led to more interactions between federal agents and local communities, including immigrant communities in Indiana. Attorneys practicing in civil rights, immigration and constitutional law must be prepared to handle claims involving unlawful detention, excessive force, unlawful searches, due process violations and retaliation.

Tune in as experienced trial attorneys cover practical litigation strategies for pursuing civil rights claims against federal agencies, ethical considerations when representing vulnerable clients, and how these cases serve as an important check on government power. Protecting constitutional rights is critical regardless of political ideology.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand legal framework for bringing civil rights claims against federal officers, including Bivens actions
• Learn common immunity and procedural defenses by federal agencies and strategies to address them
• Leave with practical strategies for investigating and litigating civil rights cases including immigration enforcement
• Identify ethical considerations when representing vulnerable populations
• Discover storytelling techniques for presenting constitutional violations to judges and juries

Featuring: Faith Alvarez, Alvarez Legal; Jeffrey Lowe, Kightlinger & Gray LLP; Brandon Tate, Waldron Tate Land LLC; Chase Wilson, Hurst Limontes LLC