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Case Name
Nicacio v. U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
IM-WA-0011
Docket / Court
C-82-1018 RJM ( E.D. Wash. )
State/Territory
Washington
Case Type(s)
Immigration and/or the Border
Attorney Organization
Center for Human Rights & Constitutional Law
Case Summary
In 1984, a class of Hispanic persons brought suit against the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, alleging that its Border Patrol agents engaged in a pattern of unlawful stops to detain and interrogate persons of ...
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In 1984, a class of Hispanic persons brought suit against the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, alleging that its Border Patrol agents engaged in a pattern of unlawful stops to detain and interrogate persons of Hispanic appearance traveling on Washington state highways. Plaintiffs, represented by Evergreen Legal Services, alleged that agents regularly conducted roving motor vehicle patrols in search of undocumented aliens in Yakima Valley, an area which had substantial agricultural operations and employed many field laborers. Plaintiffs further alleged that many of the stops were based solely on the driver or occupants' Hispanic appearance. Attorneys with the Evergreen Legal Services, Farm Workers Division represented plaintiffs. They sought declaratory and injunctive relief, monetary damages and class certification.
Following a hearing on the merits of the case, the District Court (Chief Judge Robert J. McNichols) entered judgment in favor of the plaintiffs, declaring that the agents' practice of stopping vehicles without a valid search or arrest warrant, or without a particularized reasonable suspicion based on specific articulable facts, was unconstitutional. The Court issued an order requiring INS agents to keep record of each vehicle stop and the stated reasons for it, for a period of three years. Nicacio v. U.S. I.N.S., 595 F.Supp. 19 (E.D.Wash. 1984). The INS appealed.
The Court of Appeals (Circuit Judge Schroeder) affirmed. Nicacio v. U.S. I.N.S., 768 F.2d 1133 (9th Cir. 1985), opinion superseded by Nicacio v. U.S. I.N.S., 797 F.2d 700 (9th Cir. 1985). In its amended opinion, the Appeals Court held that (1) the plaintiff class had standing to bring the suit; (2) Hispanic appearance and work clothing did not constitute reasonable suspicion that persons in a vehicle were undocumented aliens sufficient to justify a motor vehicle stop; and (3) the district court did not abuse its discretion in requiring INS to document reasons for vehicle stops.
We have no further information on this case.
Dan Dalton - 12/11/2007
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Issues and Causes of Action
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Issues
Constitutional Clause
Unreasonable search and seizure
Immigration/Border
Border police
Detention - conditions
Detention - criteria
Detention - procedures
Plaintiff Type
Private Plaintiff
Causes of Action
Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens
Case Details
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Defendant(s)
U.S. Border Patrol
U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
Plaintiff Description
All persons of Mexican, Latin, or Hispanic appearance who have been, are, or will be traveling by motor vehicle on the highways of the State of Washington.
Indexed Lawyer Organizations
Center for Human Rights & Constitutional Law
Class action status sought
Yes
Class action status granted
Yes
Filed Pro Se
No
Prevailing Party
Plaintiff
Public Int. Lawyer
Yes
Nature of Relief
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief
Litigation
Order Duration
1984 - 1987
Filed
1982
Case Closing Year
1987
Case Ongoing
No
Additional Resources
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Documents
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Court
Docket(s)
No docket sheet currently in the collection
General Documents
E.D. Wash.
04/18/1984
Memorandum Decision
(595 F.Supp. 19)
IM-WA-0011-0006.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: Google Scholar
U.S. Court of Appeals
08/16/1985
Opinion
(768 F.2d 1133)
IM-WA-0011-0007.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: Google Scholar
U.S. Court of Appeals
08/19/1986
Opinion
(797 F.2d 700)
IM-WA-0011-0008.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: Google Scholar
W.D. Wash.
11/22/1995
Order
IM-WA-0011-0001.pdf
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Detail
W.D. Wash.
05/28/2008
Stipulation of Settlement
IM-WA-0011-0002.pdf
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Detail
W.D. Wash.
06/01/2008
Stipulation and Order of Protection Regarding Privacy Act Information and Information Covered by 8 U.S.C. Section 1255a(c)(5)
IM-WA-0011-0003.pdf
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Detail
not recorded
06/02/2008
Press Release
IM-WA-0011-0005.pdf
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Detail
W.D. Wash.
06/02/2008
Order of Preliminary Approval of the Class Action Settlement [ECF# 504]
IM-WA-0011-0004.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
People
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Judges
Beezer, Robert R.
(Ninth Circuit)
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IM-WA-0011-0007 | IM-WA-0011-0008
Goodwin, Alfred Theodore
(D. Or., Ninth Circuit)
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IM-WA-0011-0008
McNichols, Robert James
(E.D. Wash.)
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IM-WA-0011-0006
Robart, James L.
(W.D. Wash.)
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IM-WA-0011-0002 | IM-WA-0011-0003 | IM-WA-0011-0004
Rothstein, Barbara Jacobs
(W.D. Wash.)
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IM-WA-0011-0001
Schroeder, Mary Murphy
(Ninth Circuit)
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IM-WA-0011-0007 | IM-WA-0011-0008
Plaintiff's Lawyers
Benjamin, Thomas B.
(Washington)
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IM-WA-0011-0006
Chandola, Neha
(Washington)
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IM-WA-0011-0005
Ford, Daniel G.
(Washington)
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IM-WA-0011-0006 | IM-WA-0011-0007 | IM-WA-0011-0008
Gibbs, Robert H.
(Washington)
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IM-WA-0011-0001 | IM-WA-0011-0002 | IM-WA-0011-0003 | IM-WA-0011-0004 | IM-WA-0011-0005
HolguĂn, Carlos R.
(California)
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IM-WA-0011-0002
Lara, Victor H.
(Washington)
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IM-WA-0011-0006
Matsumoto, Mari Lise
(Washington)
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IM-WA-0011-0005
Pauw, Robert
(Washington)
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IM-WA-0011-0001 | IM-WA-0011-0002 | IM-WA-0011-0005
Rubin, Michael
(California)
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IM-WA-0011-0002
Schey, Peter A.
(California)
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IM-WA-0011-0001 | IM-WA-0011-0002 | IM-WA-0011-0004
Walls, Lori
(Washington)
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IM-WA-0011-0005
Defendant's Lawyers
Beatty, William
(Washington)
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IM-WA-0011-0006
Filppu, Lauri Steven
(District of Columbia)
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IM-WA-0011-0007 | IM-WA-0011-0008
Golding, Marshall Tamal
(District of Columbia)
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IM-WA-0011-0007 | IM-WA-0011-0008
Gray, Carroll D.
(Washington)
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IM-WA-0011-0006
Hussey, Thomas W.
(District of Columbia)
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IM-WA-0011-0007 | IM-WA-0011-0008
Lamp, John
(Washington)
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IM-WA-0011-0006
Norwood, Anthony W.
(District of Columbia)
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IM-WA-0011-0002 | IM-WA-0011-0003 | IM-WA-0011-0004
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