Maricopa County, AZ

A class action lawsuit has been filed against the county for allegedly violating the constitutional rights of due process to illegal immigrants. The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court in Phoenix and claims county officials are misusing a state law aimed at cracking down on human smugglers when they charge illegal immigrants with conspiring to transport themselves. The class claims Maricopa County's enforcement policy is a scheme to control international borders and seeks to bar unreasonable search and seizures. Since the anti-smuggling statute went into effect in 2006, officers have made 360 arrests and there have been 180 convictions.