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ACLU Lawsuit Settled Against Northwood Police for Immigrant Detention

Emily Corwin for NHPR

The ACLU of New Hampshire has won a settlement against the Northwood police for illegally detaining an immigrant last year.

Johoani Velasco Perea lives legally in the United States. He was arrested in 2018 by Northwood Police while walking to work.

According to the ACLU, the police arrested Perea on suspicion that he was in the country illegally and held him to confirm his status with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

As part of the settlement, the Northwood police have agreed to change their policies. It also includes a payment of $12,500.

The ACLU recently won a similar settlement against the Exeter police for detaining a Jordanian immigrant last year.

The lawsuit was filed by the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project.

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