New York Judge Orders $112 Million For Unlawful ICE Detentions

The government received some bad news regarding its immigration enforcement efforts. While U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE, has been around since 2003, it's only been recently that they have dominated the headlines. ICE was created in March 2003 by the Homeland Security Act. The agency is under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security.

"Congress granted ICE a unique combination of civil and criminal authorities to better protect national security and public safety in answer to the tragic events on 9/11. Leveraging those authorities, ICE's primary mission is to promote homeland security and public safety through the criminal and civil enforcement of federal laws governing border control, customs, trade and immigration."

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Judge Orders New York County To Pay Immigrants After ICE Detention

The government is on the hook for $112 million to be paid out to immigrants arrested by ICE agents in New York. According to NewsNation, more than 600 immigrants will benefit from their legal victory after they were illegally detained by ICE agents here in New York State.

There are likely many more lawsuits of this magnitude working their way through the legal system or soon to be filed. Ultimately, taxpayers are responsible for this massive payout. The judge ordered Suffolk County and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office to pay the judgment to 674 immigrants who were held in county jails in 2017, even after they posted their bail or resolved their cases. An immigrant filed a complaint against Suffolk County after he was held beyond his release date due to ICE's administrative convenience.

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José Pérez, Deputy General Counsel at LatinoJustice PRLDEF, which represented the immigrants, said, “This decision brings long-overdue accountability. The jury confirmed what we have argued all along, that Suffolk County’s actions trampled the basic due process rights guaranteed under the 14th Amendment.”

There have been many accusations levied against ICE recently when it comes to unlawful arrests of U.S. citizens, so I am guessing there will be more lawsuits coming in New York and around America. The Suffolk County government will likely appeal the judgment.

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