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`Julie A. Pace (#014585)
`BALLARD SPAHR ANDREWS & INGERSOLL, LLP
`3300 North Central Avenue, Suite 1800
`Phoenix, Arizona 85012-2518
`Telephone: 602-798-5477
`Fax: 602-998-3251]
`Email: seldend@ballardspahr.com
`pacej@ballardspahr.com
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`Attorneys for Plaintiffs
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`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
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`poorOoCO“IDAASeWLY
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`MANUELde JESUS ORTEGA
`MELENDRES,on behalf of himself and
`all others similarly situated,
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`Plaintiffs,
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`Vv.
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`JOSEPH M. ARPAIO,in his individual
`and official capacity as Sheriff of
`Maricopa County, Arizona, JOHN
`DOES 1[-10 in their individual and
`official capacities as sheriffs deputies
`for the County of Maricopa, and
`MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA,
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`Defendants.
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`COMPLAINT (Class Action)
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`1. Violation of Equal Protection under the
`U.S. Constitution
`2. Violation of Unreasonable Search and
`Seizure under U.S. Constitution
`3. Violation of Due Process under U.S.
`Constitution
`4. Violation of Right to Travel under U.S.
`Constitution
`5. Violation of Due Process under Arizona
`Constitution
`6. Violation of Right to Privacy under
`Arizona Constitution
`7. Violation of Race Discrimination in
`Federally Funded Programs
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`Plaintiff, Manuel de Jesus Ortega Melendres (“Plaintiff’ or “Mr.
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`Ortega”), on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, by and through his
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`attorneys, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP, alleges upon information and
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`belief, except as to his own actions, the investigation of his counsel, and the facts that
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`are a matter of public record, as follows:
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`NATURE OF THE CASE
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`In this civil rights case, Plaintiff seeks to remedy and stop illegal,
`1.
`discriminatory and unauthorized enforcement of federal immigration laws against
`Hispanic persons in Maricopa County, Arizona. Plaintiff also seeks damages for his
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`unlawful arrest and detention.
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`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
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`2.
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`This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28
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`U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1343. This Court has jurisdiction over the state law claims
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`pursuant
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`to 28 U.S.C. § 1367.
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`This Court has authority to grant declaratory,
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`injunctive, and monetary relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 2201, and 2202, and to
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`award attorneys’ fees under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1988 and 2412.
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`3.
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`4.
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`Venueis properin this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b).
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`PARTIES
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`Plaintiff Manuel de Jesus Ortega Melendres, a Hispanic male,
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`is a
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`citizen and resident of Sonora, Mexico. Atthe time ofthe events that are the subject
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`of this lawsuit, Mr. Ortega possessed a valid Visa issued by the United States
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`Department of State and a valid Permit issued by the United States Department of
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`Homeland Security. Mr. Ortega is a retired school teacher.
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`5.
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`Defendant Maricopa County, Arizona, is a political subdivision of the
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`State of Arizona that can sue and be sued in its own name. Upon information and
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`belief, Maricopa County receives federal funds.
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`6.
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`Defendant Joseph M. Arpaio (“Arpaio”) was at all relevant times the
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`Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, acting within the scope of his employment as
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`Sheriff. He is responsible for, among other things, the implementation of the policies
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`and/or practices of Maricopa County,
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`including but not
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`limited to,
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`the control,
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`supervision, operation and administration of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
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`7.
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`Defendants John Does 1-10 wereat all times relevant to this complaint,
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`employed, duly appointed, and acting as sworn officers of the Maricopa County
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`Sheriff's Office, and wereat all times acting under color of law and pursuant to the
`policies and/or usages of the County of Maricopa and the State of Arizona. Said
`Defendants are sued individually and in their official capacities as sheriff's deputies.
`Defendants are hereinafter referred to collectively as “Defendants.”
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`FACTS
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`The Unlawful Stop and Detention of Manuel de Jesus Ortega
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`8.
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`On September 6, 2007, Mr. Ortega legally entered the United States at
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`the border station in Nogales, Arizona.
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`Mr. Ortega possesses a United States Visa that is valid through August
`9.
`23, 2016, and possessed a Permit
`issued by the United States Department of
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`Homeland Security that was valid through November1, 2007.
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`10.
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`On or about September 26, 2007, at 6:15 a.m., Mr. Ortega was a
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`passenger in a vehicle in Cave Creek, Arizona, that was stopped by officers from the
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`Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. The vehicle was being driven by a Caucasian
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`male, but the passengers, including Mr. Ortega, were Hispanic men.
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`11.
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`The officers told the driver that he was being stopped for speeding, but
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`they did not give him a citation or take him into custody.
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`12.
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`The officers looked at Mr. Ortegasitting in the vehicle and asked him to
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`produce identification.
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`13. Mr. Ortega showed them the following documents that he had in his
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`wallet:
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`(a) his United States Visa, which has his photograph and fingerprint onit; (b)
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`his Mexican Federal Voter Registration card, which also has his photograph and
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`fingerprint on it; and (c) a copy of the Permit he was given by the United States
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`Department of Homeland Security with a stamp that shows his admission to the
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`United States was valid through November1, 2007.
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`14.
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`Although Mr. Ortega produced identification establishing his legal
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`status in the United States, the officers told him to exit the vehicle, which he did.
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`the officers pushed Mr. Ortega against a
`After exiting the vehicle,
`15.
`Sheriff's Department vehicle and patted him down overhis entire body in a rough
`manner.
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`The Sheriffs officers then took everything out of Mr. Ortega’ pockets,
`16.
`including his wallet and a small bottle of lotion that Mr. Ortega occasionally applies
`to his face so that his skin does not becomedry.
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`17.
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`The Sheriff's officers, upon removal of the small bottle of lotion from
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`Mr. Ortega’s pocket, asked Mr. Ortega in a confrontational manner “How manytimes
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`a week to you jack off?”
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`18. Mr. Ortega was then handcuffed with his arms behind his back. Mr.
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`Ortega had a broken wrist years ago that did not heal correctly. His wrist has a visible
`deformity and causes him pain. Mr. Ortega asked the Sheriff’s officers to please be
`careful in handcuffing him, but they handled him roughly. The officers kept Mr.
`Ortega’ hands handcuffed behind his back for approximately 40 minutes.
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`19.
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`The officers then put Mr. Ortega in the back of a Sheriff's vehicle and
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`took him to the Sheriff's office in Cave Creek.
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`20.
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`At the Sheriff's office they placed Mr. Ortega in a holding cell where
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`they left him for four hours.
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`21.
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`Throughout the time that Mr. Ortega was seized from the vehicle, patted
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`down, handcuffed, transported to the Sheriff's office, placed in the holding cell and
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`left to remain in the holdingcell, no one from the Sheriff's office explained anything
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`to him, and no one offered to get a Spanish speaking officer or translator to assist in
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`communicating with him.
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`22.
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`23.
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`attorney.
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`The officers did not advise Mr. Ortega of his Mirandarights.
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`The officers did not tell Mr. Ortega that he had the right to speak to an
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`24.
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`The officers did not tell Mr. Ortega anything about whether he could or
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`should make any statements to them.
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`29.—After the Sheriffs officers left Mr. Ortega in the jail in Cave Creek for
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`25.
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`The officers did not give Mr. Ortega any opportunity to make a phone
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`call.
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`The officers did not tell Mr. Ortega what crime he allegedly committed,
`26.
`or if he was being charged with any crime.
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`27.
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`The officers did not say anything about what might happen to Mr.
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`Ortega.
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`28.
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`Theofficers did not give Mr. Ortega any documents regarding his arrest
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`or their putting him in jail.
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`four hours, they placed him in handcuffs again, with his arms behind his back and
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`took him to a Hummervehicle. A driver and a driver’s companion then drove him to
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`downtown Phoenix. The driver of that vehicle spoke Spanish. Mr. Ortega explained
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`that his wrist was quite painful and asked if he could be handcuffed with his hands in
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`front of him rather than with his hands pulled behind his back. The driver said that he
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`could not do that.
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`30.
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`The officers drove Mr. Ortega to the U.S. Immigration and Customs
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`Enforcement (“ICE”) office on Central Avenue in downtown Phoenix. They took
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`him inside and removed the handcuffs. Mr. Ortega’ hands were swollen, and he was
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`in pain.
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`31.
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`At the ICE office Mr. Ortega was placed in a holding cell and left
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`unattended for more than one hour.
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`32.
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`After waiting in the cell, Mr. Ortega was taken to an ICEofficial. He
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`did not identify himself or give Mr. Ortega any identification. The Sheriff's officers
`whoarrested Mr. Ortega were also present.
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`33.
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`The ICE officer asked Mr. Ortega how he entered the United States.
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`Mr. Ortega told him that he came through legally at the port of entry at Nogales,
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`Arizona. The ICE officer asked for Mr. Ortega’s documents.
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`34.
`The Sheriff's officers gave Mr. Ortega’s Visa and other documents to
`the ICE official. The ICE official took look a quick look at the documents and said,
`“These documents are good.”
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`35.
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`The ICE official told Mr. Ortega he wasfree to leave.
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`36. Mr. Ortega was in custody from 6:15 a.m. until about 3:00 p.m.
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`37.
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`During the approximately nine hours that he was in custody, Mr. Ortega
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`was never: (a) given any water, (b) given any food, (c) told his rights, or (d) given the
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`name ofany ofthe officers involved.
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`38. Mr. Ortega also was never given any paperwork, other than a case
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`number, with any information about his: (a) being stopped, (b) being taken into
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`custody by the Sheriffs officers, (c) being held in jail by the Sheriff's officers, (d)
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`being transferred to the ICE office, (e) being held in jail at the ICE office, or (f) his
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`being released from custody.
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`39.
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`After being released in downtown Phoenix, Mr. Ortega had to makehis
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`own way from downtown Phoenix to Cave Creek.
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`40.
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`Because of Mr. Ortega’ experience with the Maricopa County Sheriff's
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`officers he is now afraid.
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`41. Mr. Ortega is frightened to walk on the street or be seen in public in
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`Maricopa County because he fears that the Sheriffs officers will come and arrest him
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`again becausehe is Hispanic and does not speak English.
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`42. Mr. Ortega is afraid that the Sheriff's officers will hurt him physically if
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`they pick him up again.
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`43. Mr. Ortega is afraid that he will be thrown in jail without any
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`explanation, without any rights, and without any opportunity to get help even though
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`the federal government of the United States has issued a Visa to him that gives him
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`permission to be here.
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`Defendants’ Limited Authority to Perform Immigration Enforcement Functions
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`Pursuant to Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8
`44.
`U.S.C. §1357(g), the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is
`authorized to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies to
`train and permit designated officers to perform certain immigration enforcement
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`functions. Under such a Memorandum of Agreement (“MOA”), the state and local
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`officers are given training and supervised by appropriate ICE officers.
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`45.
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`According to ICE,“[t]he 287(g) program is designed to enable state and
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`local
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`law enforcement personnel, incidental to_a lawful arrest_and during the
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`course of their normal duties, to question and detain individuals for potential
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`removal
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`from the United States,
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`if_these individuals are identified as
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`undocumentedillegal aliens and they are suspected of committing a state crime.”
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`Fact Sheet, Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (September 24,
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`2007), available at http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/factsheets/factsheet287gprogover.htm
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`(emphasis added)( a true copy of the Fact Sheet is attached hereto as Exhibit A).
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`46.
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`ICE also has madeit clearthat, “[t]he 287(g) program is not designed to
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`allow state and local agencies to perform random street operations.” The 287(g)
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`program also, “is not designed to impact issues such as excessive occupancy and day
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`laborer activities.”
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`Indeed, “ICE representatives repeatedly emphasized that it is
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`designed to identify individuals for potential removal, who pose_a threat to public
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`safety, as_a result of an arrest and/or conviction for state crimes.” /d. (emphasis
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`added).
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`47.
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`ICE guidelines specifically direct that, “Police can only use 287(g)
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`authority when people are taken into custody as a result of violating state or local
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`criminal law. Police cannot randomly ask for a person’s immigration status or
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`conduct immigration raids,”
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`and officers may only, “use their authority when
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`dealing with someone whois suspected of a state crime that is more thanatraffic
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`offense.” /d. (emphasis added).
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`In or around January 2007, Defendants Maricopa County and Arpaio
`48.
`entered into an MOA with ICE which authorized up to a maximumof 160 nominated,
`trained, andcertified personnel of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office to perform
`certain immigration enforcement functions. A true copy of the MOA is attached
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`hereto as Exhibit B.
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`Part I of the MOA provides that, “the exercise of the immigration
`49.
`enforcement authority granted under
`this MOA to participating LEA [Law
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`Enforcement Agency] personnel shall occur only as provided in this MOA.” Part V
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`of the MOAspecifically provides that the immigration enforcement authority granted
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`to Defendantsis, “subject to the limitations contained in this MOA.”
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`50.
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`Part XV of the MOAprovidesas follows:
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`Participating LEA personnel who perform certain federal
`immigration enforcement
`functions are bound by all
`federal civil rights statutes and regulations, including the
`U.S. Department of Justice “Guidance Regarding The Use
`Of Race By Federal Law Enforcement Agencies” dated
`June 2003.
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`Participating LEA personnel will provide an opportunity
`for subjects with limited English language proficiency to
`request an interpreter.
`Qualified
`foreign language
`interpreters will be provided by the LEA as needed.
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`51.
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`The U.S. Department of Justice Guidance Regarding the Use of Race
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`By Federal Law Enforcement (“DOJ Guidance”) to which Defendants are bound
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`specifically states that, “’[rlacial profiling’ at its core concerns the invidious use of
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`race or ethnicity as a criterion in conducting stops, searches and other
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`law
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`enforcement
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`investigative procedures,”
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`and that,
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`“[rJacial profiling in law
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`enforcement is not merely wrong, but also ineffective.” A true copy of the DOJ
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`Guidance is attached hereto as Exhibit C.
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`52.|The DOJ Guidance directs that, “[i]n making routine or spontaneous law
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`enforcement decisions, such as ordinary traffic stops, Federal
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`officers may not userace or ethnicity to any degree, except that officers may rely on
`race and ethnicity in a specific suspect description.”
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`53.
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`Defendants’ authority to enforce federal immigration law is constrained
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`and limited by the U.S. Constitution, federal law and the MOA.
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`54.
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`Notwithstanding those profound limits on Defendants’
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`authority,
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`Defendants, acting under and pursuant to Arpaio’s policies, practices, philosophies
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`and directives, have grossly exceeded the limits of their lawful authority and in so
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`doing they have egregiously trampled the constitutional and civil rights of Ortega and
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`countless other Hispanic and Latino members of the Maricopa County community.
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`55.
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`By their actions described above and as set forth in more detail below,
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`Defendants have devised and implemented an invidious and unconstitutional custom,
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`policy and practice of racial profiling toward Hispanic and Latino persons in
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`Maricopa County.
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`Defendants’ Racial Profiling and Abuse of Authority
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`56.
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`In or about July, 2007, Arpaio established a dedicated hotline for people
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`to call
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`the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office with information about alleged
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`unauthorized aliens. Arpaio and Maricopa County do not have legal authority under
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`federal law or the MOAto establish and operate that hotline.
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`57.
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`Arpaio established and implemented a “Triple I” Unit
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`(HMlegal
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`Immigration and Interdiction) to investigate tips received on his illegal immigration
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`hotline. Arpaio and Maricopa County do not have legal authority under federal law or
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`the MOAto operate the Triple I Unit.
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`58.
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`On September 27, 2007, Arpaio ordered his Triple I Unit to go to Cave
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`Creek, Arizona, to investigate and arrest illegal immigrants. Acting under color of
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`law and Arpaio’s orders, several Maricopa County Sheriffs officers detained,
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`questioned and arrested at least nine Hispanic individuals allegedly because they were
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`illegal immigrants. Upon information andbelief, those officers did not have probable
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`cause to believe that any of those detained, questioned or arrested had committed a
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`violation of Arizona state law. Those arrested were transported directly to jail, not to
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`an ICE facility.
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`59.
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`On October 4, 2007, Arpaio ordered his Triple I Unit to go to Queen
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`Creek, Arizona, for an operation similar to that conducted in Cave Creek. Again, at
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`least 16 Hispanic individuals were detained, questioned and arrested on suspicion of
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`being illegal immigrants. Upon information andbelief, the arresting officers did not
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`have probable cause to believe that any of those detained, questioned or arrested had
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`committed a violation of Arizona state law. Those arrested were transported directly
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`to jail, not to an ICE facility.
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`60.
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`Recently, Arpaio entered into an agreement with the Maricopa County
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`Attorney’s Office to jointly investigate possible violations of Arizona’s new employer
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`sanctions law, A.R.S. Section 23-212. According to Arpaio, his Triple I Unit will be
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`used to enforce that law. Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas sought the
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`agreement with Arpaio because he has, “a proven track record of enforcing
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`immigration laws and not caving in to political correctness.” The constitutionality
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`and validity of Arizona’s new employer sanctions law is the subject of other cases
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`pending in this court.
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`61. Ata recent press conference, Arpaio clearly and emphatically outlined
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`his overzealous, illegal and unconstitutional policies and philosophies. He described
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`his operation as a “pure program.” One designed, “to go after illegals, not the crime
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`first.” His practice is to “go after illegals... go after “em and lock ‘em up.” Arpaio
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`and Maricopa County do not have legal authority under federal law or the MOA to
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`engage in that conduct.
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`62.
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`On December 8, 2007, Sheriff's officers followed, questioned and
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`detained a Hispanic male in Cave Creek. He was merely walking on the sidewalk.
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`He was followed by officers in a patrol car. The officers stopped the car, approached
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`the man and detained him for questioning without probable cause or other lawful
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`basis... The officers asked him for identification and his social security card. They
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`BALLARDSPAHRANDREWS&INGERSOLL,LLP
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`questioned him at length about his citizenship status and his residence. He is a U.S.
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`citizen.
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`63.
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`For the past several weeks, Arpaio and his officers have detained,
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`questioned and arrested Hispanic protesters demonstrating in the vicinity of Pruitt’s
`Home Furnishings in east Phoenix. Upon information and belief,
`the arresting
`officers did not have probable causeto believe that any of those detained, questioned
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`or arrested had committed a violation of Arizonastate law.
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`64.
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`Ina blatantaffront to the Pruitt store protesters First Amendmentrights,
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`Arpaio has announcedthat he will continue to harass and arrest those protesters until
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`and unless they stop their protests.
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`65.
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`Defendants’ conduct violates the Constitution and laws of the United
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`States, the MOA and the DOJ Guidance. Assuch,it must be stopped.
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`CLASS ALLEGATIONS
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`66.
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`This is a class action seeking declaratory and injunctive relief under
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`Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(2) on behalf of Plaintiff and all other similarly
`situated individuals.
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`67.
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`The class which Plaintiff seeks to represent consists of, “all individuals
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`of Hispanic descent who reside, are employed, attend school and travel within the
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`borders of Maricopa County, Arizona.” This class is so numerousthat joinder ofall
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`membersis impracticable.
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`68.
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`There are questions of law and fact commonto all members ofthe class
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`and all class members have been directly affected by the challenged actions of
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`Defendants. Each putative class member has been subjected to arbitrary, racially-
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`discriminatory stops, detention, arrests and/or searches conducted by Defendants.
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`Each putative class member has been subjected to stops, detentions, interrogations
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`and/or searches without any reasonable articulable suspicion or probable cause that
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`such class member had committed a crime or was engaged in criminalactivity.
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`OoCoSNDSCOBeWYBe
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`DMEAST #9915788 v1
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`PHOENIX,ARIZONA85012
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`ia)
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`12
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`69.
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`The claims and defenses of the representative plaintiff are typical of the
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`claims and defensesof the class.
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`70.
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`The representative plaintiff will
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`fairly and adequately protect
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`the
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`interests of theclass.
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`71.
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`Defendants in this case have taken actions in violation of the class
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`members’ constitutional rights and/or refused to act in accordance with thoserights,
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`which are grounds generally applicable to the class, thereby making appropriate final
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`injunctive relief or corresponding declaratory relief with respect to the class as a
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`whole.
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`72.
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`Plaintiffs counsel
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`is competent and experienced in class action
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`litigation of this type.
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`FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF:
`EQUAL PROTECTION
`(Fourteenth Amendment)
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`73.
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`Plaintiff hereby incorporates by this reference all allegations of the
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`preceding paragraphs of this Complaint, as if fully set forth herein.
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`74.
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`As an Hispanic and a citizen of a foreign country, Mr. Ortega is a
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`memberof a protected class.
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`75.
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`As Hispanics and citizens of a foreign country,
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`those individuals
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`detained, questioned and arrested by Defendants’ Triple I Unit on September 27 and
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`October 4, are members ofa protected class.
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`76.
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`Defendants, acting under color of law and in concert with one another,
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`engaged in profiling of Mr. Ortega and other Hispanic individuals based on their race.
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`77.
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`Defendants, acting under color of law and in concert with one another,
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`engaged in profiling of Mr. Ortega and other Hispanic individuals based on their
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`national origin.
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`78.
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`Defendants did not have reasonable suspicion or probable cause to stop
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`and/or detain Mr. Ortega or any of the other Hispanic individuals referred to above.
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`79.
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`By purposefully stopping and detaining Mr. Ortega because ofhis race
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`and/or national origin, Defendants deprived Mr. Ortega of the equal protection ofthe
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`law within the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment
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`to the United States
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`Constitution. These actions violated Mr. Ortega’ Fourteenth Amendmentrights and
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`42 U.S.C. § 1983.
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`80.
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`By their conduct described above, Defendants in general, and Arpaio in
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`particular, have devised and implemented a policy, custom and practice of illegally
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`detaining and questioning Hispanic individuals solely because of their race and
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`nationalorigin.
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`81.
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`Defendants’ actions have caused and will continue to cause Mr. Ortega
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`and other similarly situated individuals to suffer tremendous harm and public
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`humiliation and be subjected to unlawful discrimination unless these actions are
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`stopped.
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`82.
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`As a direct, proximate result of Defendants’ wrongful conduct, Mr.
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`Ortega has suffered and will continue to suffer significant and substantial emotional
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`and physical injuries.
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`SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF:
`UNREASONABLE SEARCH AND SEIZURE
`(Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments)
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`83.
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`Plaintiff hereby incorporates by reference all allegations of the
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`preceding paragraphsof this Complaint, as if fully set forth herein.
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`84.
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`Pursuant to the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States
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`Constitution,
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`state
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`and local governments
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`are prohibited from conducting
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`unreasonable searches and seizures.
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`85.
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`Defendants, acting under color of law and in concert with one another,
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`stopped, seized, searched and arrested Mr. Ortega without probable cause or
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`reasonable suspicion that he had committed any crime. Such conduct violated the
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`3300NORTHCENTRALAVENUE,SUITE1800
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`or SC
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`Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1 Filed 12/12/07 Page 14 of 57
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`Fourth Amendment guarantee against unreasonable searches and seizures,
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`the
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`Fourteenth Amendment, and 28 U.S.C § 1983.
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`Upon information and belief, Arpaio and the other Defendants, acting
`86.
`under color of law and in concert with one another, have engaged in a custom,
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`practice and policy of stopping, seizing, searching and arresting Hispanic individuals
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`in Maricopa County without probable cause or reasonable suspicion that they had
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`committed any crimes under Arizonalaw.
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`87.
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`Defendants’ actions have caused and will continue to cause Mr. Ortega
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`and other similarly situated individuals to suffer tremendous harm and_ public
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`humiliation and be subjected to unlawful discrimination unless these actions are
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`stopped.
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`88.
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`As a direct, proximate result of Defendants’ wrongful conduct, Mr.
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`Ortega has suffered and will continue to suffer significant and substantial emotional
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`and physicalinjuries.
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`THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF:
`DUE PROCESS
`(Fourteenth Amendment)
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`89.
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`Plaintiff hereby incorporates by reference all allegations of the
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`preceding paragraphsof this Complaint, as if fully set forth herein.
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`90.
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`Defendants, acting under color of law and in concert with one another,
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`stopped, seized, searched and arrested Mr. Ortega without probable cause or
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`reasonable suspicion that he had committed any crime.
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`91.
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`Defendants, acting under color of law and in concert with one another,
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`unlawfully detained Mr. Ortega without probable cause or reasonable suspicion that
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`he had committed any crime.
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`92.
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`Defendants, acting under color of law and in concert with one another,
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`failed to implement and/or follow proper procedures to determine Mr. Ortega’s legal
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`immigrant status prior to detaining, searching and arresting him.
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`93.
`Defendants, acting under color of law and in concert with one another,
`exceeded and/or abused the authority granted to them under federal law through the
`MOA,the DOJ Guidance and the Section 287(g) program.
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`94.
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`Defendants’ wrongful conduct violated the Due Process Clause of the
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`Fourteenth Amendmentto the United States Constitution and 28 U.S.C. § 1983 in that
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`they denied Mr. Ortega and other similarly situated individuals liberty and freedom
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`without due processof law.
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`95.
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`As members of a suspect class, Mr. Ortega and other similarly situated
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`Hispanic individuals are entitled to be treated fairly, equally and free from
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`discrimination. Defendants’ wrongful conduct deprived Mr. Ortega and other
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`similarly situated individuals of substantive due process in violation of the Due
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`Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendmentin that those Defendants discriminated
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`against Mr. Ortega and other similarly situated individuals on the basis of their race
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`and nationalorigin.
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`96.
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`Defendants’ actions have caused and will continue to cause Mr. Ortega
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`and other similarly situated individuals to suffer tremendous harm and_ public
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`humiliation and be subjected to unlawful discrimination unless these actions are
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`stopped.
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`97.
`
`As a direct, proximate result of Defendants’ wrongful conduct, Mr.
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`Ortega has suffered and will continue to suffer significant and substantial emotional
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`and physical injuries.
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`FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`RIGHT TO TRAVEL
`(Commerce Clause, Article [V and Fourteenth Amendment)
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`98.
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`Plaintiff hereby incorporates by refer