ACLU AND CO-COUNSEL STATEMENTS ON LAPC V. MULLIN APPROVAL OF CLASS CERTIFICATION FOR PEOPLE WHO RECORD DHS OPERATIONS

LOS ANGELES—One year ago, federal law enforcement brutalized protesters calling for an end to the indiscriminate immigration raids and the press who attempted to report on the events. The ACLU Foundation of Southern California, Bruan Hagey and Borden LLP, Lovey + Loevy, Law Office of Carol A. Sobel, and Law Office of Peter Bibring filed a lawsuit challenging this conduct. On Friday, a federal court granted a motion for class action certification, extending the protections sought by this lawsuit to people who record or photograph DHS immigration enforcement operations.

Jonathan Markovitz of the ACLU of Southern California issued the following statement:

“Friday’s decision to grant class certification is another victory for the freedoms of speech and the press, reaffirming the right to document abuses and unlawful conduct by government agents. DHS has treated cameras as threats and people holding phones as criminals. This ruling ensures that those who are affected by the department's illegal actions can defend their right to legally observe.”

Matthew Borden of Bruan Hagey and Borden LLP issued the following statement:

“As recent events have shown, the ability to record and observe law enforcement is critical to accountability and the public debate. The First Amendment does not allow DHS to use violence to prevent journalists and civilians from reporting on its militarized incursions into our communities.”