Suffolk County has announced plans to appeal a federal court ruling that awarded nearly $112 million to approximately 700 immigrants unlawfully detained by local authorities. According to a spokesperson for the county, Michael Martino, the decision follows a finding that the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office violated the Fourth Amendment by detaining these individuals beyond their scheduled release times.
The U.S. District Court determined that the immigrants were subjected to unlawful detentions between July 18, 2014, and November 15, 2018. Many of these detentions occurred after the individuals had already paid bail and were made in response to requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The sheriff’s office ceased this policy on the latter date, but the repercussions are still being felt.
The county’s disagreement with the jury’s decision has prompted its forthcoming appeal. This legal battle comes in the wake of a significant settlement in New York City, where the city agreed to pay up to $92.5 million related to the unlawful detention of over 20,000 immigrants by ICE. Despite the scale of this previous settlement, Andrew Case, an attorney with LatinoJustice PRLDEF, expressed confidence that identifying the individuals entitled to the Suffolk County payout will not pose immediate challenges for his team.
Legal Ruling Highlights Due Process Violations
A federal jury’s ruling confirmed that Suffolk County unlawfully held migrants beyond their release dates without adequate notification. This decision emerged after the court denied the county’s motion to dismiss the claims, wherein the defense argued that local authorities should enjoy the same immunity as federal agencies like ICE. Judge Kuntz firmly rejected this argument, stating, “The rule of law defines the power of the police: not the other way around.”
The legal team representing the immigrants included attorneys from Winston & Strawn LLP and LatinoJustice PRLDEF, while the county’s defense was handled by Dewey Pegno & Kramarsky LLP and the Suffolk County Attorney’s Office. José Pérez, Deputy General Counsel at LatinoJustice PRLDEF, lauded the jury’s decision as a victory for due process rights, emphasizing that the actions of Suffolk County had undermined the protections guaranteed under the 14th Amendment.
As Suffolk County prepares for its appeal, the implications of this ruling could have far-reaching effects on local immigration policies and the treatment of detainees going forward. The outcome may also influence similar cases across the United States, raising questions about the responsibilities of local law enforcement in federal immigration matters.