A civil rights group sued the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency Wednesday, claiming its agents had harassed five U.S. citizens of Mexican descent during raids targeting illegal immigrants in southeast Georgia.
The Southern Poverty Law Center alleges that federal agents targeted the five because of their appearance, and it alleged the agents were engaging in a campaign to drive Latinos out of the area.
The plaintiffs include a trailer park landlord who claims his property was damaged when federal agents broke into numerous trailers.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for Northern District of Georgia, concerns a sweep in which more than 120 illegal immigrants were rounded up.
The center, based in Montgomery, Ala., is asking the court to certify the lawsuit as a class action.
