Facts

Alain Martinez-Perez and Clemente de la Cerda, former prisoners of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, asserted claims against LASD concerning policies and practices related to immigration detainers issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including LASD's practice of detaining pursuant to immigration detainers when they would otherwise be eligible for release on criminal matters. The action was filed on behalf of plaintiffs and a class of similarly situated inmates.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS: Plaintiffs contended that defendants held inmates on immigration detainers after they became due for release on criminal matters. Defendants also had a practice of incarcerating arrestees with bail of less than $25,000 who, in the absence of an immigration detainer, would have been released on their own recognizance. Defendants also did not accept bail on behalf of inmates with immigration detainers. Ultimately, defendants were liable for damages for violating several state and federal laws by conducting themselves as alleged by plaintiffs.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS: Defendants denied the contentions.

Result

After summary judgment was granted to Plaintiffs on their Fourth Amendment and Equal Protection claims, the parties attended mediation and settled for $14,000,000.