A year and a half after Motel 6 employees were accused of giving guest lists to agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the issue is closer to a resolution. The brand, part of G6 Hospitality, has agreed to settle a second lawsuit related to its actions.
Motel 6 will pay $12 million based on the fact that seven locations in the state of Washington volunteered the personal information of around 80,000 guests to ICE from 2015 to 2017, according to the state's attorney general’s office.
Related story: Motel 6 to pay $7.6M for providing guest information to ICE
According to a statement from the AG's office, “Motel 6’s disclosures resulted in ICE’s targeted investigation of many guests with Latino-sounding names on or near the Motel 6 properties where they stayed. For some guests, Motel 6’s disclosures resulted in the loss of their homes and jobs and separation from their families.”
Of the approximately 80,000 guests whose private information these Motel 6 locations gave to ICE, at least nine were detained.
Related story: Washington state suit claims Motel 6 shared guest info with ICE
The $12 million payment, after attorneys’ costs and fees are taken out, will go towards providing restitution and monetary damages to the guests whose information was provided to ICE. Any guests who stayed at one of the following locations between 2015 and 2017 will be eligible for restitution: Bellingham, North Everett, South Everett, South Seattle, South Tacoma and two SeaTac locations.
Additionally, Motel 6 has agreed to no longer provide guest information unless a warrant has been issued or someone is in imminent damage. This policy will be applied to locations nationwide.
Related story: Arizona Motel 6 employees lead ICE to undocumented guests
In November, following a class-action lawsuit, Motel 6 agreed to pay up to $7.6 million to Latino guests who say employees shared their private information
The suit focused on two Motel 6 locations in Phoenix, where guests’ personal information and whereabouts were shared with U.S. immigration officers, leading to at least seven arrests. Those arrested, as well as an eighth guest whose information also was provided to ICE agents, went on to file the lawsuit against Motel 6.