Civil Action Podcast

Civil Action: Law Professor Explains Trump’s Constitutional Crimes

Attorneys Brian Kabateck and Shant Karnikian welcome Professor Stan Goldman, Loyola Law School’s longest-serving tenured faculty and criminal procedure expert, to explain how Trump’s immigration raids violate the Fourth Amendment. Goldman breaks down why stopping people based solely on race, accent, or language is unconstitutional—agents need “reasonable articulable suspicion” of criminal activity, not just looking Latino. They discuss how ICE’s military-style raids with masked agents create inherently coercive situations, the historical origins of Fourth Amendment protections against demanding papers, and available remedies like Section 1983 civil rights lawsuits. A constitutional law masterclass on why Trump’s “show me your papers” tactics violate protections that apply to everyone in America, regardless of immigration status.