Suffolk County Vows to Appeal $112 Million Award to Unlawfully Detained Immigrants
In a move that has left many in the community reeling, officials at Suffolk County have announced their intention to appeal a recent jury verdict awarding nearly 700 immigrants who were unlawfully detained by the county sheriff's office on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a staggering $112 million.
The decision comes after a federal judge ruled that the sheriff's office had violated Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable seizures, as well as due process protections, in holding the immigrants past their scheduled release times. The jury found that the detentions, which took place over several years, were both unlawful and caused irreparable harm to those affected.
The county spokesperson, Michael Martino, has stated that Suffolk County disagrees with the outcome of the case and is planning to appeal the award. This move has been met with criticism from advocates for the immigrant community, who argue that the county's actions were a clear violation of human rights and the law.
In a statement, Andrew Case, a plaintiffs' attorney with LatinoJustice PRLDEF, praised the jury's decision, noting that it "recognized the harm that unlawful detention causes and recognized the dignity and humanity of our clients." The award, which will be shared among 674 immigrants who were detained between July 2014 and November 2018, is seen as a significant victory for those who have suffered at the hands of the county's actions.
The case has drawn comparisons to a similar settlement reached in New York City last year, where the city agreed to pay up to $92.5 million to settle claims that it unlawfully detained over 20,000 immigrants for ICE between 1997 and 2012.
As Suffolk County prepares to appeal the award, advocates are urging officials to reconsider their position and take responsibility for their actions. With the county's decision set to be challenged in court, the community remains divided on whether the $112 million payout is a fair compensation for those who have suffered.
In a move that has left many in the community reeling, officials at Suffolk County have announced their intention to appeal a recent jury verdict awarding nearly 700 immigrants who were unlawfully detained by the county sheriff's office on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a staggering $112 million.
The decision comes after a federal judge ruled that the sheriff's office had violated Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable seizures, as well as due process protections, in holding the immigrants past their scheduled release times. The jury found that the detentions, which took place over several years, were both unlawful and caused irreparable harm to those affected.
The county spokesperson, Michael Martino, has stated that Suffolk County disagrees with the outcome of the case and is planning to appeal the award. This move has been met with criticism from advocates for the immigrant community, who argue that the county's actions were a clear violation of human rights and the law.
In a statement, Andrew Case, a plaintiffs' attorney with LatinoJustice PRLDEF, praised the jury's decision, noting that it "recognized the harm that unlawful detention causes and recognized the dignity and humanity of our clients." The award, which will be shared among 674 immigrants who were detained between July 2014 and November 2018, is seen as a significant victory for those who have suffered at the hands of the county's actions.
The case has drawn comparisons to a similar settlement reached in New York City last year, where the city agreed to pay up to $92.5 million to settle claims that it unlawfully detained over 20,000 immigrants for ICE between 1997 and 2012.
As Suffolk County prepares to appeal the award, advocates are urging officials to reconsider their position and take responsibility for their actions. With the county's decision set to be challenged in court, the community remains divided on whether the $112 million payout is a fair compensation for those who have suffered.
I don't think the county has much of a chance with this appeal, tbh 
they're pretty much admitting guilt and it's gonna be tough to change what was already decided by the jury... 
700+ people got screwed for years and now they want to just take some of that money back? 
i mean what even is wrong with these ppl? they're trying to appeal 112 million bucks or whatever because some county officials didn't wanna follow the law lol like what's the big deal? it was literally a bunch of people being held against their will, that's bad news right there 
. and now they're just gonna try to fight this in court and waste everyone's time with it 
. i don't get why anyone would think this is worth appealing, its just basic human rights stuff. and what really gets me is that ppl are saying the county should take responsibility for their actions like come on 
they're trying to skirt accountability here. anyway, it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out in court...
. The sheriff's office made some serious mistakes, and they need to take responsibility for those actions 
. That being said, I do feel bad for the county - it's gotta be tough to deal with a verdict like this 
. It's all about finding a way forward, you know? 
to all the ppl who've been fighting for human rights & justice. Like, yeah, Suffolk County can appeal it, but does that really change anything? The harm's already done, and now they're gonna try to spin this as some kinda victory? I don't think so 
.
. We all know how this story goes - ICE calls up, sheriff says "okay", and next thing you know, people are stuck in detention without access to basic human rights.
. But we gotta keep pushing for more accountability & consequences for those who perpetrate this kind of abuse. The fact that ppl in Suffolk County can just appeal a $112 million judgment is crazy 
. It's like they think they're above the law or something? Not on my watch, bro 
bad news alert 
. What do you guys think? Should they appeal it or should they just take responsibility and move on? 
. I hope that by appealing the award, Suffolk County will be forced to confront their mistakes and work towards making things right 
.
I'm so disappointed in Suffolk County's decision to appeal this massive award... 
. I mean, can you imagine if it were your kid who was detained without cause? 
. It's time for them to take responsibility for their actions and make things right 
The fact that Suffolk County is appealing the award is just so frustrating - shouldn't they be taking responsibility for their actions instead of trying to wriggle out of this one? I remember when New York City had to pay out all those millions last year, it was like a big wake-up call. And now we're back at square one... 
. The fact that advocates are still pushing for officials to take responsibility and acknowledge their mistakes is super important, you know? 
Like, we need leaders who are willing to listen and learn from their mistakes, not just try to sweep it under the rug 
. And what's up with the county spokesperson saying they disagree with the outcome of the case? That's like saying 'oh, I'm sorry our actions were wrong' but then trying to undo it by appealing the verdict 
. Just doesn't add up 
. It's not like they were just hanging out at the county jail, nope, they were basically being held captive without any due process 
.
I mean, they're gonna fight this in court and waste more time and money. Meanwhile, these people are still trying to rebuild their lives after being through hell and back 
. The fact that this case is even possible is a testament to how broken our immigration system is 
. and who needs accountability when you can just play the victim card? 
.
. Maybe they can use this as an opportunity to learn from their errors and make things right with the community 
. I mean, can you imagine having your rights violated and being held against your will for years? It's heartbreaking to think about the harm and trauma those people have gone through