Judge to review revised Motel 6 settlement in immigration lawsuit

PHOENIX – A federal judge will review an amended settlement for Motel 6 guests who said the budget hospitality chain invaded their privacy in Arizona by giving their personal information to immigration agents.

A judge was going to decide Friday on the proposal increasing the total amount available for claims to $10 million.

Any remainder will go to nonprofit migrant advocacy groups outlined in the settlement.

The complex settlement also widened the class to include guests who stayed between February 2015 and June 2019.

The motel chain had agreed in November to pay $7.6 million.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office had asked a judge to deny approval of the settlement in May, arguing that “the majority, if not all, of the consumer portion” of the settlement money would go to parties not connected to the class.

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund sued the budget chain in January 2018, saying that giving guests’ information to Immigration and Customs Enforcement without a warrant violated privacy and civil rights laws.

The organization is representing eight unidentified people who stayed at two Motel 6 locations in Phoenix in June and July 2017.

All but one were arrested as a result of motel employees voluntarily giving their personal information and whereabouts to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

In April, the company agreed to pay $12 million to settle a similar suit in Washington state.

Chain owner G6 Hospitality LLC of Texas said it has ordered an end to the practice.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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