Phoenix
Hotel chain settles ICE case: Motel 6 agreed this week to pay $8.9 million to settle a lawsuit accusing hotel employees of providing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with the private information of Latino guests. The hotel agreed to not share guests’ personal information without a warrant, subpoena, or threat of a “significant crime.” Last year, the Phoenix New Times reported that ICE made at least 20 arrests at Motel 6 locations on tips from employees. According to the suit brought by eight guests, one plaintiff was detained for over a month after being arrested outside a Motel 6. In the settlement, Motel 6 will pay up to $5.6 million to guests placed in immigration removal proceedings, up to $1 million for those interrogated, and up to $1 million for those whose information was shared, as well as plaintiffs’ legal fees.