ACLU FILES “RACIAL PROFILING” LAWSUIT AGAINST STATE POLICE FOR ILLEGAL DETENTION OF GUATEMALANS IN I-95 STOP

The Rhode Island ACLU today filed a federal lawsuit against the R.I. State Police, challenging the legality of the detention and transporting to immigration officials of fourteen people, all Guatemalans, who were stopped in a van on I-95 on July 11th after the driver changed lanes without using a turn signal. The lawsuit, filed by RI ACLU volunteer attorney V. Edward Formisano on behalf of eleven of the individuals, argues that the actions by the state police violated the state’s Racial Profiling Prevention Act, as well as the driver and passengers’ constitutional rights to be free from discrimination and from unreasonable searches and seizures. The lawsuit notes that the detention ensued even though Thomas Chabot, the state trooper who stopped the van, confirmed that the license and registration of driver Carlos Tamup were valid, and that Tamup had no criminal record. Chabot nonetheless proceeded to open the doors of the vehicle and, by utilizing Tamup as a translator, requested all the passengers to also provide identification. When some did not produce any ID, Chabot asked them if they possessed any documents demonstrating their U.S. citizenship, which none were able to produce. After some further delays, the trooper advised them that they would all be escorted to the Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Providence. According to the complaint, Chabot instructed Tamup that if any passenger attempted to escape from the van en route to Providence, that passenger would be shot.  For the full press release, click here.

KJ