Decision by the Ninth Circuit Concerned a Raid on a Van Nuys Factory
LOS ANGELES — In a major decision over storm trooper-style tactics by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal court today ruled that ICE agents violated the Constitution in their raid on a Van Nuys factory. ICE had warrants for fewer than 10 people working at Micro Solutions Enterprise, but it indiscriminately detained more than 130 people working there and forced them to undergo repeated interrogations without attorneys. It then held dozens of them without food or water for more than 18 hours.
This case concerns Gregorio Perez Cruz, who was arrested during the raid. He was represented by the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California and the Law Offices of Noemi Ramirez. Because the court found ICE agents had illegally interrogated him, it overturned the deportation order entered against him. Today’s decision will likely invalidate deportation proceedings in other cases arising from the Micro Solutions raid. And because ICE has used similar tactics in raids around the country, its effects could be felt in many other cases.
Please attribute the following quote to Ahilan Arulanantham, senior counsel at the ACLU SoCal:
"Today's ruling sends a powerful message: everyone has the right to be free from unlawful searches and seizures. ICE agents used a warrant to search for documents as an excuse to round up more than a hundred people working in a factory, many of whom were U.S. citizens, and then to interrogate them about their immigration status. That is illegal. The decision represents a major victory not only for Mr. Perez Cruz, but for everyone who values their freedom."
Please attribute the following quote to attorney Noemi Ramirez:
"The court's ruling is clear, ICE cannot carry out preplanned mass detentions, interrogations, and arrests that violate a person's Fourth Amendment rights. This victory is not merely Mr. Perez's victory, but a victory for people that value freedom, that believe the constitution means what it says and for those that believe that the immigrant community is not alone in their struggle."
The decision was handed down by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2019/06/13/15-70530.pdf
