ACLU, MALDEF Sue New Mexico Sheriff’s Office

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) – The ACLU and Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund are suing the Otero County sheriff’s office in New Mexico over immigration raids conducted last month.

The 24-page federal lawsuit charges that the sheriff’s office illegally detained Latino residents at searched their homes in Chapparal in September.

The lawsuit involves nine residents, including four U.S. citizens. Otero County sheriff’s officials have previously denied wrongdoing and pledged to continue to use federal grant money as part of Operation Stonegarden to enforce local and state laws.

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