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 Nicacio v. U.S. I.N.S., 768 F.2d 1133 (9th Cir. 1985), opinion superseded by Nicacio v. U.S. I.N.S., 797 F.2d 700 (9th Cir. 1985).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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