Three US citizens have amended lawsuits against federal immigration officers in California just hours after Governor Gavin Newsom signed the No Kings Act, the new law allowing people to seek damages for alleged constitutional violations by ICE and other federal officials.
The cases were filed on Tuesday, September 29, the day the legislation took effect. The plaintiffs – Cary Lopez, Javier Ramirez and Angel Piña – had already brought legal action against the federal government, but their lawyers updated the complaints to rely on the new law.
Ms Lopez alleges that ICE agents detained and handcuffed her in Hawthorne, Los Angeles County, while she was nine months pregnant in June 2025. Court documents claim agents pinned her stomach against a vehicle and held her in chains for about eight hours.
Her lawyers say the ordeal caused severe emotional distress and led to premature labour. Video released by her legal team appears to show bystanders pleading with masked agents to release her.
Mr Ramirez, also a US citizen, alleges that immigration agents entered his family’s vehicle business in Montebello without a warrant in June 2025. He claims he repeatedly told officers that he was an American citizen before being tackled, handcuffed and taken away.
According to his lawsuit, Mr Ramirez was held in immigration detention for four days and suffered bruising and cuts to his face. The complaint also alleges that agents took his phone and passport.
Mr Piña’s case concerns an incident in Ontario, San Bernardino County, in July 2025. His lawyers say he called 911 after seeing federal agents dealing with several minors, then was chased, tackled and restrained.
The lawsuit alleges that Mr Piña repeatedly told officers he was a US citizen and needed medical treatment, but remained in custody until he was taken to hospital by ambulance. It says he suffered injuries to his ankle, shoulder and face.
The No Kings Act, formally Senate Bill 747, took effect immediately after Mr Newsom signed it. It applies retrospectively to alleged incidents dating back to March 1, 2025, and creates a route for Californians to bring civil claims against federal, state and local officials accused of breaching constitutional rights.
The law covers allegations including excessive force, unlawful searches or seizures, retaliation for protected speech and discriminatory targeting based on race, national origin or political identity. Its author, Democratic state Senator Scott Wiener, said the measure was intended to close what he described as a legal loophole that had made it difficult to hold federal agents personally accountable.
