Allston Car Wash Employees File Federal Complaint Following Detention by ICE
Seven employees of Allston Car Wash, who were detained by federal immigration officials last year, have initiated a federal complaint, marking the first step towards a lawsuit for economic damages against the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to their arrest and treatment.
The Civil Rights Bar Association of Boston, a nonprofit organization, submitted the complaint under the Federal Tort Claims Act, as confirmed in documentation shared with GBH News. The complaint claims that on November 4, 2025, the employees endured significant harm during what is described as an “aggressive, militarized and indiscriminate attack.” Each worker is seeking $1 million in damages, along with coverage of legal expenses.
The complaint alleges that the misconduct of federal employees resulted in severe physical, emotional, and psychological harm to each petitioner. It describes an overwhelming presence of approximately 20 vehicles and 20 officers at the scene, most of whom were equipped with masks, body armor, and visible firearms during the raid.
Allegations within the complaint include violations of the Fourth Amendment, which forbids searches and seizures without a warrant, as well as infringements on Fifth Amendment due process rights and the Immigration and Nationality Act. Furthermore, it claims that ICE agents failed to make any “meaningful effort” to identify suspects before their arrest, and that they engaged in false imprisonment, assault, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Ivan Espinosa-Madrigal, the executive director of Lawyers for Civil Rights, stated that these workers were subjected to dehumanizing treatment due to their roles in manual labor. He emphasized that the targeting of hardworking Latinos, including those with work permits, has profound economic repercussions, as ICE continues to detain individuals based on their occupation rather than any actual criminal activity.
The individuals named in the complaint include Dairo Jesús Preciado, Jose Pablo Enriquez Sagastume, Vanessa del Carmen Vázquez Escobar, and Felicita del Carmen Escobar de Vázquez, along with Clarissa Marisela Aguilón Mauricio, Heidi Fabiola Aguilón Mauricio, and Yuri Magalí Méndez Luarca. All seven employees, who are among the nine detained Latino workers, have since been released from custody.
The complaint asserts that the plaintiffs are not flight risks, have no criminal records, and maintain community ties, with some having resided in the U.S. for decades. In one instance, a man reportedly worked at the Allston car wash for 26 years and has lived in the country for 30 years.
The Federal Tort Claims Act permits individuals to sue the government for injuries incurred due to the negligence or misconduct of federal employees. While the Department of Homeland Security has not yet commented on the lawsuit as of GBH News’ inquiry, the government is required to respond to the complaint within six months; otherwise, the workers can proceed with their lawsuit.
New details regarding the arrests and subsequent treatment of the workers have emerged in the complaint. Preciado and Sagastume were washing a vehicle when ICE agents arrived. Following Sagastume’s arrest, he claims an officer asked him about his legal status. Despite having a pending asylum claim and valid employment authorization, his request to access his paperwork was denied, as stated in the complaint.
Sagastume, 20, recounted the psychological impact of the incident, sharing how they were merely performing their jobs when armed authorities surrounded them, disregarding their humanity. The complaint further details that another worker, Preciado, 67, was deprived of necessary medication for over two days while in custody, despite a medical history that requires ongoing treatment.
According to the complaint, some employees continued to work at Allston Car Wash post-release, while others have not returned due to fear of further detention. The ongoing situation underscores the significant emotional and psychological toll on the affected workers and their families, reflecting broader issues surrounding immigration enforcement and labor rights.
