Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2025

Senate Bill

S. 634

119th Congress

Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 19, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Tammy Duckworth

Senator

Democratic

IL

Cosponsors

19

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary

This bill prohibits the government from detaining or imprisoning anyone based solely on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics. Named after Fred Korematsu and Representative Mark Takai, it aims to prevent the type of mass internment seen during World War II.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill prohibits the government from detaining or imprisoning anyone based solely on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics. Named after Fred Korematsu and Representative Mark Takai, it aims to prevent the type of mass internment seen during World War II.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2025 This bill prohibits the detention or imprisonment of an individual based solely on an actual or perceived protected characteristic of the individual. The term protected characteristic includes each of the following: race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and any additional characteristic that the Department of Justice determines to be a protected characteristic.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Bans detention based solely on protected characteristics
Covers race, ethnicity, national origin, and religion
Includes sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation
Protects individuals with disabilities
Allows DOJ to designate additional protected characteristics

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This would provide statutory protection against the kind of mass internment that Japanese Americans faced during World War II. Individuals could not be detained solely because of who they are or what they believe, providing legal recourse against discriminatory detention policies.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Subjects

Correctional facilities and imprisonment

Detention of persons

Disability and health-based discrimination

Due process and equal protection

Racial and ethnic relations

Religion

Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

634, 119th Congress (2025). "Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-634