Why You Should Attend
Increased immigration enforcement is likely to include enforcement practices that give rise to damages action.  Claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act, Bivens, and Section 1983 are important tools to combat abusive enforcement practices and ensuring that federal and local law enforcement abide by their constitutional obligations. This program will give a general overview of each of these claims. We will also discuss employing a media strategy, in addition to litigation, to highlight abusive enforcement practices, as an advocacy tool in its own right.

What You Will Learn
We will cover the legal standards and procedures to bring an administrative claim and both individual and impact litigation under the Federal Tort Claims Act.  We will similarly cover Bivens and Section 1983, as well as the defenses government defendants commonly raise in these cases.  This will include the types of conduct that can be challenged and the life of a damages claim from fact-gathering to judgment.

Who Should Attend
Anyone who is interested in providing representation to immigrants whose constitutional rights are violated should attend the training. Immigration-based damages actions often involve, but are not limited to, claims related to excessive force, unlawful detention, unlawful arrest, physical abuse, wrongful death, denial of medical services, unlawful search, and denial of religious freedom.