MN: Willmar Residents Sue ICE Over Immigration Arrests

[Jean]

Apr 19, 2007 5:58 pm US/Central

Willmar Residents Sue ICE Over Immigration Arrests

(AP) Minneapolis About two dozen Willmar residents and 40 John and Jane Does filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging last week's immigration raid in the central Minnesota town was an illegal campaign of "terror and intimidation."

The lawsuit alleges that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents made searches without warrants and used racial profiling during the raid, which ended with 49 arrests.

ICE attorneys were reviewing the lawsuit Thursday, said spokesman Tim Counts. He said in a statement that, "All ICE enforcement actions conducted in Willmar last week were fully within the law. These are widely accepted law enforcement procedures that have been affirmed repeatedly by the courts." He has previously denied rumors of agents stopping Hispanics at a local Wal-Mart and has criticized claims that searches were done without warrants.

The lawsuit alleges ICE agents sought out housing where Hispanics live, entered homes without warrants, and conducted unconstitutional stops based on race. The lawsuit claims those arrested were not told of their rights and were denied access to attorneys.

The plaintiffs are asking for compensatory damages, and they want a judge to keep the government from conducting more immigration enforcement or deportation proceedings against the plaintiffs until the lawsuit is resolved. They also ask the judge to declare the agents' actions unconstitutional. The Consul of Honduras supports the lawsuit.

Of those arrested, 18 had criminal convictions, six were fugitives and 25 were in violation of immigration law, ICE has said. More than half of those arrested had claimed to be U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico. In addition, three suspected illegal immigrants currently in jail will be turned over to ICE when they are released.

http://wcco.com/politics/local_story_109190334.html

[gofer]

These people are CRAZY!

[jimpasz]

who is behind this takes lots of $$$$$$

[Jean]

who is behind this takes lots of $$$$$$

Perhaps the more than well-funded ACLU?

[JAK]

This would be funny if it wasn't so disgusting! I am so sick of all of these people and the organizations that are helping them.