Spokane settles lawsuit over detention of immigrant by cop

File photo: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

SPOKANE, Wash. — The city of Spokane will change its policies to make clear that police officers will not question or detain individuals to enforce federal immigration laws.

That's part of a final settlement the city reached with the ACLU of Washington and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project on Tuesday in federal court in Spokane.

The lawsuit stems from a 2014 traffic accident when the vehicle of Gabriel Gomez was struck by a minivan that failed to yield the right of way. A Spokane police officer responded, and contacted the U.S. Border Patrol to inquire whether the agency had any interest in Gomez.