Court Rules Against ICE “Knock and Arrest”

One of my former students sent me some good news late last week.  She is quoted in the ACLU Southern California press release:

“The so-called `knock-and-talk’ practice by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is unlawful and unconstitutional, according to a federal judge who vacated the enforcement practice [last week].  

Judge Otis D. Wright II granted the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment in a set of claims concerning ICE’s “knock-and-talk” practice in Kidd v Mayorkas, a class action lawsuit challenging ICE’s deceptive home arrest practices in Los Angeles and the surrounding region. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of two community organizations, the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ICIJ) and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), who represent the class, and an individual, Osny Sorto-Vasquez Kidd.

`Everyone should feel safe in their own home, regardless of immigration status. Because ICE never has judicial warrants, they primarily rely on ‘knock and talks’ to conduct home arrests,’ said Stephanie Padilla, staff attorney at the ACLU Foundation of Southern California. `This order should significantly curtail ICE’s unconstitutional home arrest practices.’”

Here is the order.

KJ