An advocacy group and three immigrants are suing a northwestern New Mexico county over jail detentions from immigration holds.
The Santa Fe-based Somos un Pueblo Unido is scheduled to announce Wednesday details about a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of three immigrants who live in Farmington.
According to the lawsuit, all three were stopped for minor traffic violations and held unlawfully by the San Juan County Sheriff's Office while federal officials checked their immigration status.
Until recently, it was common for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to ask counties to hold individuals brought in for traffic violations if the individuals were suspected of not having proper immigration documents.
All three were later released.
San Juan County Sheriff Ken Christesen says his office will continue to do its job.
The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount in damages.
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