Suffolk County is on the losing end of a $112 million jury award involving 674 immigrants that were unlawfully held and handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
A federal jury found Suffolk County and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office financially liable and responsible for violating the constitutional rights of hundreds of Long Islanders unlawfully detained on behalf of ICE.
In a unanimous decision, the jury awarded $112 million to the class of 674 people who were part of the 2017 lawsuit against Suffolk County and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department for unlawfully holding individuals in county jails after posting their bail or resolving their cases, for the sole purpose of facilitating ICE to take them into federal custody.
The case, Orellana Castañeda et al. v. County of Suffolk and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office et al., does not address current policies in Suffolk County, though the issues at play echo community concerns about local law enforcement cooperation with ICE.
José Pérez, Deputy General Counsel at LatinoJustice said, “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. Today’s verdict is justice served and our clients courage ensures these types of abuses will hopefully not be repeated.”
The case challenged Suffolk County’s practice of holding individuals in county jails after they should have been released for the sole purpose of facilitating a direct handover to ICE.
The verdict in the week-long trial follows a January ruling by U.S. District Court Judge William F. Kuntz II, that Suffolk County’s cooperation with ICE, specifically, its practice of holding individuals solely on the basis of ICE civil detainers, violated the Fourth Amendment and the New York State Constitution.
Suffolk County will be required to compensate the affected class members.