This suit, filed on behalf of Colorado resident Luis Quezada, asserts that Jefferson County Sheriff Ted Mink illegally imprisoned the ACLU’s client for 47 days in 2009 simply because federal immigration authorities suspected that Mr. Quezada was here in violation of federal immigration laws.
In May, 2009, Mr. Quezada was arrested and taken to the Jefferson County Jail for allegedly failing to appear in court on a traffic charge. When he went to court a few days later, on May 26, he was sentenced to time served. He would have been entitled to immediate release, but Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had sent the jail an Immigration Detainer, advising that it was investigating whether Mr. Quezada was violating immigration laws.
As specified in the Code of Federal Regulations, the Immigration Detainer instructs the custodian to hold an inmate an additional 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) after the inmate’s applicable release date. The detainer states that its purpose is to provide adequate time for ICE agents to determine whether to take the inmate into federal custody and begin formal deportation proceedings.
When ICE did not arrive within 48 hours, Mr. Quezada was entitled to be released. Instead, the jail continued to deprive Mr. Quezada of his liberty, without legal authority, for an additional 47 days. During that time, Mr. Quezada was in legal limbo, with no formal accusations against him, no opportunity to see a judge, and no opportunity to post bail.
When ICE finally showed up and took Mr. Quezada into immigration custody, the agency formally accused him of being in violation of immigration laws. Mr. Quezada finally had formal notice and the opportunity to post bail. He posted bail and was quickly released during the pendency of his immigration case.
Mr. Quezada sought compensation from Sheriff Mink for false imprisonment and violation of rights under the Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments. In an amended complaint, Mr. Quezada also sought compensation from federal immigrationon officials. The litigation settled when the United States agreed pay $50,000 and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office paid an additional $40,000.
ACLU news releases:
- "ACLU sues Jefferson County Sheriff for Illigrally imprisoning Colorado resident suspected of immigraiton violations," ACLU News Release, April 21, 2010
- "Feds pay $50k settlement to ACLU client," ACLU News Release, May 3, 2011
- "Jeffco Sheriff to pay $40k to settle claim of illegally imprisoning Colorado resident," ACLU News Release, May 23, 2011
Media:
- "ACLU sues Colo. sheriff over prisoner’s stay," The Denver Post, April 21, 2010
- "ACLU goes after sheriff," Colorado Community Media, April 29, 2010
- "Detention of Immigrant Called Unfair," Colorado Public Radio, May 4, 2010
- "ACLU says Colo. immigrant settles detention case," The Denver Post, May 17, 2011
- "ACLU: Feds Settle Suit For Illegal Imprisonment," CBS News, May 3, 2011
ACLU case number
2009-15
