Update 04/09/2019 3:24am: 

According to reports, Motel 6 will pay a $12 million settlement in the lawsuit against the motel chain after it was revealed they shared guest information with ICE. A reported seven Motel 6 locations participated in handing over information of over 80,000 guests to ICE without a warrant between 2015 and 2017. In a statement concerning the matter, Motel 6 stated the information disclosures "resulted in ICE's targeted investigation of many guests with Latino-sounding names," causing, "significant harmful consequences, including the detention and deportation of many guests and the suffering of their families."

Original 01/05/2018 2:32am:

The attorney general of Washington state accused the motel chain known as Motel 6 of giving the federal agents their guests lists, which goes against state privacy laws. Attorney General Bob Ferguson told reporters, "Motel 6 staff recognized ICE identify guests of interest to ICE, by circling guests with Latino-sounding names.”

As the suit claims, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement came to various Motel 6 locations throughout Washington in an attempt to locate undocumented immigrants. ICE is said to have received guest lists from a receptionist without a warrant. Guestlist information included things such as names, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and license plate numbers.

Motel 6 isn’t disputing the charges. They admit to six of their locations cooperating with ICE, even though the agents came without warrants. It’s estimated that over 9,000 people were affected by this flagrant assault on privacy.

However, Motel 6 claims that in September, it told all of its locations that “they are prohibited from voluntarily providing daily guests lists to (ICE). Motel 6 takes this matter very seriously, and we have and will continue to fully cooperate with the Office of the State Attorney General."

ICE said that because it is not a defendant in the suit it would not comment on the allegations. "Due to operational security, (ICE) does not typically disclose or discuss specific information related to the source of its enforcement leads," ICE spokeswoman Danielle Bennett said in a statement. "The agency's immigration enforcement actions are targeted and lead-driven, prioritizing individuals who pose a risk to our communities. It's worth noting that hotels and motels have frequently been exploited by criminal organizations engaged in highly dangerous illegal enterprises, including human trafficking and human smuggling."

The state is inquiring a $2,000 fee for each violation of Washington’s Consumer Protection Agency, for a total of approximately $18 million. The suit was filed in King County Superior Court.

Source: complex.com