Filed Date: June 15, 2026
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
This case challenges the conduct of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, alleging that they committed multiple state law torts when they arrested the plaintiff in front of her minor children and subsequently deported her to Mexico.
On June 15, 2026, the plaintiff, a long-time resident of Connecticut, filed suit on behalf of herself and her minor children against the United States in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. The plaintiff alleged that on June 9, 2025, masked ICE agents unlawfully arrested her after pulling her out of her car, placing her in handcuffs, and driving away, leaving her children alone. The plaintiff was detained for more than a month before being deported to Mexico. Represented by law student interns and their supervising attorneys at the Worker and Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic at Yale Law School, the plaintiff brought eight state tort claims under the Federal Torts Claim Act (FTCA): intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment and false arrest, assault, abuse of process, recklessness, negligence, and loss of consortium. The plaintiff sought compensatory damages and attorneys' fees. The case was assigned to District Judge Kari A. Dooley and Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector.
On that same day, District Judge Dooley signed a standing protective order to ensure that sensitive documents exchanged during discovery remain secure and that confidential information is not improperly disclosed. The court set multiple deadlines: amended pleadings are due by August 18, 2026; discovery is due by December 15, 2026; and dispositive motions are due by January 29, 2027.
As of July 23, 2026, this case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Kara Wilczynski (7/24/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73482593/parties/martinez-v-united-states/
Dooley, Kari Anne (Connecticut)
Finucane, Madelyn (Connecticut)
Wishnie, Michael J. (Connecticut)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73482593/martinez-v-united-states/
Last updated July 23, 2026, 10:25 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: June 15, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Plaintiff is an individual suing on behalf of herself and her minor children
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
The United States
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), 28 U.S.C. § 2674
Other Dockets:
District of Connecticut 3:26-cv-00949
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Immigration/Border:
Case Summary of Martinez v. United States, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48297/ (last updated 7/24/2026).