The Mexican American Authorized Protection and Instructional Fund (MALDEF) mentioned Wednesday they had been making ready to provoke a $1 million lawsuit on behalf of a U.S. citizen detained in Los Angeles after recording a raid at a neighborhood Dwelling Depot retailer.
The civil rights group filed a claim in opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) relating to the therapy of Job Garcia, 37, a Ph.D. scholar and photographer.
MALDEF mentioned immigration officers threw Garcia on the bottom, then knelt on his again and neck as they handcuffed him for recording the raid and advising a business truck driver being questioned to not exit his automobile or reply questions from legislation enforcement.
He was held in custody for greater than 24 hours, in response to the group.
“Border Patrol and ICE punished me for informing others of their rights and for exercising my very own rights,” Garcia mentioned in a Wednesday release.
He mentioned that at no time did the brokers warn him to maneuver away or to cease recording earlier than his arrest.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin mentioned Garcia assaulted and verbally harassed a Border Patrol agent and can be prosecuted to the fullest extent.
“He was subdued and arrested for assault on a federal agent,” McLaughlin informed The Hill.
MALDEF alleges that federal brokers confined Garcia with out authorized authority and arrested him with out possible trigger in a racially motivated effort.
Attorneys mentioned his constitutional rights had been probably violated, together with the precise to free speech, the precise to stay silent, the precise to be free from unreasonable search and seizure, and the precise to due course of underneath the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments.
In consequence, Garcia’s attorneys say he suffered financial losses and private harm.
“Border Patrol and ICE punished Job Garcia merely for exercising his proper to report a discriminatory immigration raid at Dwelling Depot,” mentioned Ernest Herrera, MALDEF Western Regional Counsel.
“The Trump Administration have to be stopped in its marketing campaign of terror in opposition to those that disagree with mass deportations.”
Up to date at 6:32 p.m. EDT