ICE, the lawsuit alleges, currently adheres to a policy of “arrest first, ask questions later,” potentially in contravention of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as well as multiple federal statutes.
A coalition of Maryland-based immigrant rights organizations have filed a lawsuit to stop the Department of Homeland Security from continuing to carry out “warrantless immigration arrests” across the state.
According to CBS News, the lawsuit names a series of plaintiffs including:
- We Are CASA
- The Amica Center for Immigrant Rights
- The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland
- The National Immigration Project
The case, listed as Guzman v. D.H.S., challenges a recent series of policies implemented by the Department of Homeland Security with respect to operations conducted by its subsidiary agency, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
ICE, the lawsuit alleges, currently adheres to a policy of “arrest first, ask questions later,” potentially in contravention of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as well as multiple federal statutes.
“The complaint details aggressive tactics, including unmarked vehicles tailing work trucks, violent stops where agents box in vehicles and smash windows, and arrests of everyone in the vicinity regardless of the intended target,” We Are CASA said in a press release.
A member of We Are CASA—identified only by the pseudonym “Francisco”—told WBALTV-11 that he has been confronted by ICE in the past and lives in fear that he could be detained and arbitrarily arrested almost any time that he leaves the house.
“The worst part is when I see a car that resembles an ICE vehicle,” he said. “My whole body starts shaking. I’m afraid they might detain me again, and I just don’t know what would happen.”
The lawsuit seeks class-action certification, a temporary injunction against certain ICE operations and, ultimately, an end to mass arrests across the state.
“The surging we’re seeing across Maryland—including in Frederick—has just added fuel to the fire we feel in our bellies to sort of get the case out,” said Sonia Kumar of the ACLU of Maryland. “It all feels relevant and connected.”
CBS News notes that the lawsuit was filed on the same day that We Are CASA announced that Alexandra Sousa-Martins, an undocumented immigrant from Portugal, was released from custody after spending nearly nine months in detention.
In a statement, Sousa-Martins thanked CASA for its ongoing support.
“They stepped in when I needed it most, not only supporting me through my own ordeal but also standing by my family every step of the way,” he said. “Today, I can finally say I am free. It was a long and difficult battle, but I’m here to tell you that it is possible. Please, don’t ever lose hope. Don’t give up.”
Sources
Immigrant groups in Maryland file lawsuit against “warrantless” ICE arrests
Immigrant rights groups sue Trump administration over alleged illegal ICE arrests
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