Askins et al v. United States Department of Homeland Security et al, No. 3:2012cv02600 - Document 42 (S.D. Cal. 2013)
Court Description: ORDER Granting in Part and Denying in Part 22 Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim. For the reasons stated herein, the Court Grants in Part and Denies in Part Defendants' motion to dismiss. The Court Further Orders that the Defendan ts' motion to dismiss with respect to Plaintiffs' First Amendment claims is Granted With Leave to Amend. This dismissal applies only to Plaintiffs' claims that the Defendants' photography policy is unconstitutional under the First Amendment. To the extend Defendants move to dismiss Plaintiffs' First Amendment claims because they do not establish a pattern or practice the motion is Denied. Defendants did not move to dismiss the remaining First Amendment claims. Defendant s' motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' Fourth Amendment claims, to the extent that Plaintiffs claim that Defendants photography policyexplicitly condones deletion of photographs, is Granted. Because Plaintiffs cannot show that Defendants' wr itten policy condones deletion of pictures, leave to amend would be futile, and this claim is thus Dismissed with Prejudice. Defendants motion to dismiss the remainder of Plaintiffs' Fourth Amendment claims is Denied. Signed by Judge Thomas J. Whelan on 9/30/2013. (leh)
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Askins et al v. United States Department of Homeland Security et al Doc. 42 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 10 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 11 12 13 RAY ASKINS and CHRISTIAN RAMIREZ, 14 17 18 ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS [DOC. 22] WITH LEAVE TO AMEND Plaintiffs, 15 16 CASE NO. 12-CV-2600 W (BLM) v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, et al., 19 20 Defendants. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Defendants U.S. Department of Homeland Security, David V. Aguilar, Billy Whitford, and Frank Jaramillo move to dismiss Plaintiffs’ Complaint under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). (MTD [Doc. 22]; Reply [Doc. 33].) Plaintiffs oppose. (Opp’n [Doc. 32].) The Court decides the matter on the parties’ briefs and the record. See S.D. Cal. Civ. L.R. 7.1(d.1). For the reasons discussed below, the Court GRANTS IN PART AND DENIES IN PART Defendants’ 12(b)(6) motion. 28 -1- 12cv2600w Dockets.Justia.com 1 I. BACKGROUND 2 Plaintiffs allege that in two separate but similar incidents, their First Amendment 3 and Fourth Amendment rights were infringed. The first incident involved Mr. Ramirez 4 and occurred on June 20, 2010 at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. The second involved 5 Mr. Askins and occurred on April 19, 2012 at the Calexico Port of Entry. 6 7 A. Incident Involving Mr. Ramirez 8 According to the Complaint, Mr. Ramirez is a U.S. citizen living in San Diego, 9 California who crosses the border three or four times a month, often to visit his family 10 in Mexico. (Compl. ¶ 33.) He works as the Human Rights Director for Alliance San 11 Diego, a nonprofit organization dedicated to a number of causes, including issues 12 related to immigrant rights at the U.S.-Mexico Border. (Id. ¶ 34.) As part of his job, 13 and as a concerned member of the “border community,” Ramirez often visits the U.S.14 Mexico border “to observe law enforcement activity and monitor human rights issues.” 15 (Id. ¶ 35.) 16 On or around June 20, 2010, Mr. Ramirez and his wife were returning to the 17 United States after visiting a family member in Mexico. (Compl. ¶¶ 36-37.) After being 18 admitted into the United States, Mr. Ramirez and his wife crossed a pedestrian bridge 19 that passes over Interstate 5 on the U.S. side of the border. (Id. ¶ 37.) While crossing 20 the bridge, Mr. Ramirez noticed that male Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) 21 officers were inspecting and patting down female pedestrians at a southbound 22 pedestrian checkpoint below the bridge. (Id. ¶ 38.) Mr. Ramirez claims that his wife 23 said that the officers were only inspecting female pedestrians. (Id.) Mr. Ramirez 24 “observed the checkpoint for approximately ten to [fifteen] minutes,” taking 25 approximately ten pictures using his cell phone camera “out of concern that the officers 26 were acting inappropriately.” (Id. ¶ 39.) Mr. Ramirez does not allege that he had or 27 attempted to obtain permission from CBP prior to photographing the port of entry. (See 28 generally Id.) -2- 12cv2600w 1 While Mr. Ramirez was observing and photographing the checkpoint from the 2 pedestrian bridge, a uniformed officer asked him to present his personal identification 3 documents and to stop taking pictures. (Compl. ¶¶ 42-43.) After explaining that he 4 had already passed through inspection, refusing to hand over his documents, and taking 5 another picture of the officer, Mr. Ramirez and his wife began to descend the pedestrian 6 bridge. (Id. ¶¶ 42-44.) 7 At the bottom of the bridge, CBP officers stopped Mr. Ramirez and his wife and 8 asked whether and why he had taken photographs. (Compl. ¶ 44.) Mr. Ramirez told 9 the officers that he had taken photographs of “what he believed to be inappropriate 10 activity by CBP officers at the checkpoint–namely, the patting down of women by male 11 officers.” (Id.) After Mr. Ramirez refused the officer’s request to turn over his phone, 12 he offered to show them the pictures. (Id. ¶ 45.) 13 Then, a U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agent confronted 14 Mr. Ramirez and asked him for his personal identification documents. (Compl. ¶ 46.) 15 Mr. Ramirez again refused, and explained that he and his wife had already been 16 inspected. (Id.) The ICE agent took Mr. Ramirez’s and Mr. Ramirez’s wife’s passports 17 and brought them to a nearby office. (Id.) While in the office, a CBP officer scrolled 18 through the photos on Mr. Ramirez’s phone and deleted all the photos Mr. Ramirez had 19 taken of the CBP checkpoint. (Id.) The ICE agent returned the passports and allowed 20 them to continue on their way. (Id. ¶ 49.) 21 22 B. Incident Involving Mr. Askins 23 According to the Complaint, Mr. Askins is a U.S. citizen living primarily in 24 Mexicali, Mexico who frequently crosses the border into the United States. (Compl. ¶ 25 17.) He maintains and contributes to a blog that addresses environmental issues and 26 human rights abuses in the U.S.-Mexico border region. (Id.) Mr. Askins’ work 27 “involves extensive research, investigation, and analysis of CBP activities.” (Id.) 28 On April 18, 2012, Askins contacted CBP Officer John Campos by phone and -3- 12cv2600w 1 “requested permission to take three or four photographs inside the secondary inspection 2 area at the Calexico port of entry” on April 19, 2012. (Compl. ¶ 20.) Officer Campos 3 did not object to the request, nor did he grant it. (Id.) On April 19, 2012, Mr. Askins 4 called Officer Campos to follow up on their previous conversation, but Campos did not 5 answer. (Id. ¶ 21.) Mr. Askins left Officer Campos a voicemail stating that he was 6 going to stand on the street in Calexico and take photographs of the exit of the 7 secondary inspection area. (Id.) 8 On or about April 19, 2012, Mr. Askins took “three or four photographs of the 9 exit of the secondary inspection area” while standing approximately “50-100 feet from 10 the exit from the secondary inspection area.” (Compl. ¶ 22.) When he took these 11 pictures, he was in the United States and “not engaged in the act of crossing the 12 border.” (Id. ¶ 24.) After Mr. Askins took the pictures, CBP officers demanded Mr. 13 Askins delete the photos. (Id. ¶ 25.) Mr. Askins refused, and the officers stated they 14 would “smash the camera if Mr. Askins did not delete the photos.” (Id.) He again 15 declined, explaining that the photos were his property. (Id.) At that point, the officers 16 handcuffed Mr. Askins and took his camera, passport, car keys, and hat. (Id.) 17 Mr. Askins was forcefully lead into a small room inside the secondary inspection 18 area and told to sit down. (Compl. ¶ 27.) He was not free to leave. (Id.) He was next 19 lead to a separate room where he was “subjected . . . to an invasive and embarrassing 20 physical search.” (Id. ¶ 28.) After the search, the officers told Mr. Askins he was free 21 to go and returned his belongings. (Id. ¶ 29.) Upon inspection of his phone, he realized 22 that three of the four pictures he had taken of the port of entry had been deleted. (Id.¶ 23 30.) 24 25 C. The Current Litigation 26 On October 24, 2012, Plaintiffs filed this action alleging multiple violations of the 27 First and Fourth Amendments. (Compl. ¶¶ 52-73.) Plaintiffs’ First Amendment claims 28 include a number of theories of liability: -4- 12cv2600w 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1. Defendants violated Plaintiffs’ right to take photographs and video recordings of U.S. ports of entry. 2. Defendants violated Plaintiffs’ right to take photographs and video recordings of federal law enforcement officers engaged in the public discharge of their duties. 3. CBP’s photography policy violates the rights described in (1) and (2). 4. CBP has a practice of violating the rights described in (1) and (2). (Compl. 11-13.) Plaintiffs’ Fourth Amendment claims also include a number of theories of liability: 1. Defendants violated Plaintiffs’ right to freedom from unreasonable search and seizure of one’s person. 2. Defendants violated Plaintiffs’ right to freedom from unreasonable search and seizure of one’s property. 3. CBP has a policy that violates the rights described in (1) and (2). 4. CBP has a practice of violating the rights described in (1) and (2). 5. Defendants violated Mr. Askins’ right to freedom from the use of excessive force. (Compl. 13-15.) 14 15 16 17 18 19 On January 29, 2013, Plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction based on Defendants’ alleged violations of the First Amendment. (Pls.’ Mot. Prelim. Inj. [Doc. 19].) On April 12, 2013, the Court issued an order denying the motion for preliminary injunction. (Order Denying Prelim. Inj. [Doc. 35].) On February 13, 2013, Defendants filed the instant motion to dismiss. (MTD [Doc. 22]; Reply [Doc. 33].). Plaintiffs oppose. (Opp’n [Doc. 32].) 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 II. LEGAL STANDARD Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), a party may move to dismiss a cause of action for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). In ruling on a 12(b)(6) motion, a court must “accept all material allegations of fact as true and construe the complaint in a light most favorable to the non-moving party.” Vasquez v. L.A. Cnty., 487 F.3d 1246, 1249 (9th Cir. 2007). However, the complaint must also “contain sufficient factual matter...to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 663 (2009) -5- 12cv2600w 1 (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 554, 570 (2007)). A complaint will 2 survive a motion to dismiss where the plaintiff “pleads factual content that allows the 3 court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct 4 alleged.” Id. (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). 5 6 III. DISCUSSION 7 A. Violation of the First Amendment 8 In Cornelius v. NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, 473 U.S. 788, 800 9 (1985), the Supreme Court explained that it “has adopted a forum analysis as a means 10 of determining when the Government’s interest in limiting the use of its property to 11 its intended purpose outweighs the interest of those wishing to use the property for 12 other purposes.” The level of scrutiny applied to the government’s limitation depends 13 on whether the speech occurs in a public or private forum. Id. 14 Restrictions on speech in a public forum must be “justified without reference to 15 the content of the regulated speech ... narrowly tailored to serve a significant 16 governmental interest, and ... leave open ample alternative channels for 17 communication of the information.” American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada v. City 18 of Las Vegas, 333 F.3d 1092, 1106 (9th Cir. 2003)(quoting Ward v. Rock Against 19 Racism, 491 U.S. 781, 791 (1989)). Restrictions on speech in a nonpublic forum, on 20 the other hand, are subject to a much less stringent test: they must only be “reasonable 21 and not an effort to suppress expression merely because public officials oppose the 22 speaker's view.” Perry Education Association v. Perry Local Educators' Association, 23 460 U.S. 37, 46 (1983). 24 Defendants move to dismiss Plaintiffs’ First Amendment claims, arguing that 25 “CBP’s prohibition of unauthorized photography on ports of entry complies with the 26 First Amendment because it constitutes a reasonable and viewpoint neutral restriction 27 of expressive activity on a nonpublic forum.” (MTD 10.) Essentially, Defendants 28 argue that Plaintiffs were in nonpublic fora when they took the pictures in question, -6- 12cv2600w 1 which subjects the Defendants photography policy to the lenient “reasonable/view 2 point neutral” standard. Plaintiffs oppose, arguing that they were in public fora when 3 they took the pictures and that CBP’s regulation of photography is “unreasonable and 4 not viewpoint-neutral.” (Opp’n 11.) Thus, Plaintiffs contend that because they were 5 in public fora when taking the photos, the photography policy should be subject to 6 heightened scrutiny under the “significant government interest/narrowly tailored” test. 7 As an initial matter, the Court notes that Defendants’ line of argument only 8 addresses the alleged unconstitutionality of CBP’s written photography policy.1 It fails 9 to address Plaintiffs’ other theories of liability under the First Amendment. Thus, the 10 following analysis applies only to Plaintiffs’ claims that the CBP’s policy prohibiting 11 unauthorized photographs is unconstitutional. 12 13 1. 14 15 Plaintiffs have adequately plead that they were exercising their First Amendment rights in public fora. Public forums “are places, such as streets and parks, that have traditionally been 16 devoted to expressive activity.” Preminger v. Principi, 422 F.3d 815, 823 (9th Cir. 17 2005). “Sidewalks, streets, and parks generally ‘are considered, without more, to be 18 public forums.’” American Civil Liberties Union, 333 F.3d at 1099(quoting United 19 States v. Grace, 461 U.S. 171, 177 (1983)). “Nonpublic fora” are “areas that have not 20 traditionally or explicitly been open to expressive activity.” Preminger, 422 F.3d at 21 823. 22 Plaintiffs allege that Mr. Ramirez and his wife passed through primary inspection, 23 reentered the United States, and began walking across a “pedestrian bridge.” (Compl. ¶ 24 25 1 Defendants argue, in passing, that “even if the Court accepts Mr. Askins’ allegation 26 that he was off of port of entry as true for purposes of this motion, that allegation would not 27 suffice to state a plausible claim . . . [because] [a] single instance of CBP officers stopping photography from just off of a port of entry would not constitute a practice of restricting 28 photography outside of ports of entry.” (MTD 11 n. 19.) However, Defendants present no applicable legal authority to support this claim. -7- 12cv2600w 1 37.) While crossing the bridge, Mr. Ramirez began taking photographs of a pedestrian 2 checkpoint at the San Ysidro. (Id. ¶¶ 38-39.) That pedestrian bridge is essentially an 3 elevated sidewalk, which is generally considered to be a public forum with respect to 4 First Amendment jurisprudence. See American Civil Liberties Union, 333 F.3d at 5 1099. Therefore, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have plausibly plead that Mr. Ramirez 6 was in a public forum when he took the photographs at issue here. Id. 7 Defendants argue that Mr. Ramirez was in a nonpublic forum because “Mr. 8 Ramirez admits that he was on the San Ysidro port of entry at the time he took the 9 photographs.” (MTD 8.) However, Mr. Ramirez makes no such admission. Moreover, 10 even if Mr. Ramirez had made such an admission, his being located on government 11 owned property would not establish that he was in a nonpublic forum. See Venetian 12 Casino Resort, L.L.C. v. Local Joint Executive Bd. Of Las Vegas, 247 F.3d 937, 943 13 (9th Cir. 2001)(explaining that the title to property is not dispositive evidence in the 14 public forum versus nonpublic forum inquiry). Indeed, traditional public fora like 15 sidewalks and streets are often owned by the government. Finally, “the decision as to 16 whether a forum is public usually invokes a factual inquiry” which is inappropriate to 17 decide at this stage of the litigation. Stewart v. Dist. of Columbia Armory Bd., 863 18 F.2d 1013, 1018 (D.C. Cir. 1988). 19 Here, the issue before the Court is whether it is plausible, based on the 20 allegations made in the complaint, that Mr. Ramirez could prove that the pedestrian 21 bridge in question is a public forum. In light of the foregoing, the Court answers this 22 question in the affirmative. 23 Plaintiffs claim that “Mr. Askins was standing on the shoulder of a public street 24 in Calexico, California, approximately 50-100 feet from the exit from the secondary 25 inspection area at the Calexico port of entry” when he took photos. (Compl. ¶ 22.) 26 These allegations are sufficient to establish that Mr. Askins was in a public forum for 27 purposes of a motion to dismiss, as public streets are generally considered to be public 28 fora. See American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, 333 F.3d at 1099. -8- 12cv2600w 1 Defendants proffer argument and evidence to establish that Mr. Askins was 2 standing on “port of entry property.” (MTD 7-8, n. 15.) However, as explained above, 3 the ownership of this property does not establish conclusively that it is a nonpublic 4 forum. Also, resolution of this factual dispute is inappropriate here. See Stewart, 863 5 F.2d at 1018. Therefore, Plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged that Mr. Askins was also 6 in a public forum when he took the photographs in question. 7 8 2. Content based 9 The first requirement for restriction on speech in a public forum to be 10 constitutional is that it must be “justified without reference to the content of the 11 regulated speech.” American Civil Liberties, 333 F.3d at 1106. However, if a 12 restriction is not content-neutral, the regulation is subjected to strict scrutiny 13 and only valid if it is the least restrictive means available to further a compelling 14 government interest. Berger v. City of Seattle, 569 F.3d 1029, 1052 (9th Cir. 15 2009). 16 CBP argues that its policy is content-neutral because it restricts any 17 unauthorized photography on port property. (See CBP Directive No. 5410-001B, 18 Office of Public Affairs; Roles, Functions, Responsibilities2 [Doc. 22-2] Ex. A, ¶ 19 6.2.3.) However, as admitted by Defendants, “the decision to authorize 20 photography shall be made “‘without favoritism . . . while not compromising the 21 DHS/CBP mission.’” (MTD 6 (citing CBP Directive 3.).) Such a rule is 22 necessarily content-based because authorization depends on whether or not the 23 24 2 Generally, the court may not consider material outside the complaint when ruling on a motion to dismiss. Hal Roach Studios, Inc. v. Richard Feiner & Co., 896 F.2d 1542, 1555 26 n.19 (9th Cir. 1990). However, the court may consider any documents specifically identified 27 in the complaint whose authenticity is not questioned by the parties. Fecht v. Price Co., 70 F.3d 1078, 1080 n.1 (9th Cir. 1995) (superceded by statute on other grounds). Moreover, the 28 court may consider the full text of those documents, even when the complaint quotes only selected portions. Id. 25 -9- 12cv2600w 1 CBP believes the content of the photography compromises the DHS/CBP 2 mission. Thus, CBP’s photography policy is subject to strict scrutiny. 3 4 3. Strict scrutiny 5 As a content-based regulation, the CBP requirement for authorized photography 6 consistent with its “mission” is “only valid if it serves a compelling government interest 7 in the least restrictive manner possible.” Berger, 569 F.3d at 1052. 8 Defendants explain that their policy advances their “interests in preserving the 9 integrity of its sensitive border search techniques, law enforcement operations, and 10 criminal investigations.” Defendants’ asserted interest in regulating photography at the 11 border serves perhaps the most compelling government interest: protecting the 12 territorial integrity of the United States. U.S. v. Flores-Montano, 541 U.S. 149, 153 13 (2004)(“It is axiomatic that the United States, as sovereign, has the inherent authority 14 to protect, and a paramount interest in protecting, its territorial integrity.”) Plaintiffs 15 do not, nor can they, plausibly dispute that this is not a compelling government 16 interest. 17 Plaintiffs instead argue that the policy is not “the least restrictive means to 18 further the articulated interest” because the CBP can serve these same interests by 19 prohibiting photography of matters not exposed to public view. (Plaintiffs’ Supplemental 20 Brief 4.) Specifically, Plaintiffs suggest the policy is “overinclusive” as it extends to 21 photography of matters exposed to public view, which do not implicate CBP interests. 22 (Id.) However, Plaintiffs fail to account for the fact that a policy that prohibited 23 photography of “matters exposed to public view” would not fully address the 24 government’s interest in protecting its borders. Specifically, many issues of border 25 security “exposed to public view,” such as the identity of CBP officers and search 26 techniques, would be unprotected under such a rule. Moreover, a policy that restricted 27 photography to “matters not exposed to public view” would be impractical, if not 28 impossible to enforce, because border patrol agents could not determine who was and - 10 - 12cv2600w 1 who was not complying with such a rule. Indeed, any photography policy that hinges 2 on whether or not the subject of the photo is exposed to public view would still require 3 CBP to authorize the photography. 4 Plaintiffs also maintain the policy is “underinclusive” as it fails to prevent 5 photography of the same matters from outside port of entry property. (Id.) However, 6 “[p]hotography from off of port entry property does not pose the same threat to 7 government interests as photography” on port property. (Reply 8 n. 3.) This is because 8 CBP can erect barriers and position its operations to shield sensitive techniques from 9 off port property, but the same is not true for those on port of entry property. 10 Moreover, Plaintiffs apparent concern that Defendants have unbridled 11 discretion to prohibit photography is unfounded. Because CBP officials may not grant 12 requests that compromise the Department of Homeland Security “mission,” CBP’s 13 priority mission of securing the United States from terrorists and terrorist weapons and 14 facilitating lawful international trade is a significant bar to unbridled discretion. See 15 6 U.S.C. § 111. Furthermore, CBP is precluded from using favoritism when deciding 16 whether or not to grant requests. (CBP Directive 3.1.) Therefore, CBP’s legal 17 directive provides sufficient safeguard against officer discretion. Moreover, Plaintiffs 18 have not alleged that either of them requested authorization and were subsequently 19 denied the same due to improper officer discretion. 20 For the foregoing reasons, the Court finds that CBP’s photography policy 21 survives the strict scrutiny analysis due to the extremely compelling interest of border 22 security and the fact that the Court finds the current policy to be the least restrictive 23 alternative available to Defendants. Therefore, Defendants motion to dismiss with 24 respect to the constitutionality of the CBP photography policy is GRANTED with 25 LEAVE TO AMEND. 26 27 28 B. Violation of the Fourth Amendment - 11 - 12cv2600w 1 1. Plaintiffs have not established that their photography policy is 2 unconstitutional, so their argument based on the policy’s presumed 3 constitutionality fails. 4 Defendants move to dismiss Plaintiffs’ Fourth Amendment claims by arguing 5 that “because the restriction of unauthorized photography on land ports of entry is 6 constitutional, the seizure and search of individuals who violate that restriction is also 7 constitutional.” (MTD 21.) Thus, Defendants base their entire argument on the 8 premise that their photography policy is constitutional. However, as explained in 9 detail above, the Plaintiffs have not shown that their policy is constitutional. 10 Therefore, the Court DENIES the Defendants’ motion to dismiss on this ground. 11 Defendants also claim Plaintiffs fail to allege “a pattern of officially sanctioned 12 behavior” violative of the Fourth Amendment. (MTD 23, citing Melendres v. Aripaio, 13 695 F. 3d 990 (9th Cir. 2012).) They further argue Plaintiffs must show they are 14 “realistically threatened by a repetition” of the violation, and have failed to do so. (Id., 15 quoting City of Los Angeles v. Lyons, 461 U.S. 95, 109 (1983).) In support of this 16 argument, they contend that “a single instance” does not establish a pattern. (MTD 17 23.) 18 However, Plaintiffs specifically allege that “[i]n violating [Plaintiffs’] Fourth 19 Amendment rights, the CBP officers acted pursuant to . . . a longstanding CBP 20 practice.” (Compl. ¶¶ 64, 73.) In support of these allegations, Plaintiffs have plead two 21 instances of CBP officers improperly searching and seizing the persons and property of 22 two separate individuals at two separate ports of entry while they took photos in a 23 public forum. (Compl. ¶¶ 62-66, 71-73; Opp’n 11.) Moreover, the Complaint states 24 both Plaintiffs hope to continue photographing ports of entry in the future. (Compl. 25 8, 11.) Accordingly, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have alleged a “pattern of official 26 sanctioned behavior” that violates the Fourth Amendment. 27 Additionally, Defendants argue that CBP’s written policy does not authorize 28 deletion of detained individuals’ photographs and that “[P]laintiffs’ allegations of two - 12 - 12cv2600w 1 or three instances of deletion by CBP officers . . . do not plausibly state a claim that 2 CBP officers engage in an officially sanctioned pattern of deleting photographs.” 3 (MTD 24.) There is no dispute that CBP’s photography policy does not condone 4 deletion of photographs. Moreover, a review of the CBP directive containing the 5 photography policy reveals no such deletion rule. Therefore, the Court GRANTS IN 6 PART Defendants’ motion, to the extent that Plaintiffs claim that CBP’s written 7 photography policy allows deletion of Plaintiffs photographs. Because Plaintiffs cannot 8 show that Defendants’ written policy condones deletion of pictures, leave to amend 9 would be futile, and this claim is thus DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. 10 However, the Court disagrees with Defendants’ contention that Plaintiffs have 11 not alleged a pattern of deleting photos. Indeed, Plaintiffs have alleged that on two 12 separate but similar occasions, officers took Plaintiffs phones and deleted pictures 13 therefrom before returning the phones to their owners. Thus, the Court finds it is 14 plausible, based on the allegations made in the complaint, that Plaintiffs could prove 15 that Defendants have a practice of deleting photos. Thus, to the extent Defendants 16 argue Plaintiffs have not plead a pattern or practice of deleting photos, Defendants’ 17 motion is DENIED IN PART. 18 19 20 2. Excessive Use of Force Defendants have not moved to dismiss Plaintiffs’ fourth claim, which alleges 21 excessive use of force against Plaintiff Askins in violation of the Fourth Amendment. 22 Therefore, this claim survives Defendants’ motion to dismiss. 23 24 IV. CONCLUSION AND ORDER 25 For these reasons, the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART 26 Defendants’ motion to dismiss. The Court FURTHER ORDERS as follows: 27 28 • Defendants’ motion to dismiss with respect to Plaintiffs’ First Amendment claims is GRANTED WITH LEAVE TO AMEND. As - 13 - 12cv2600w 1 noted above, this dismissal applies only to Plaintiffs’ claims that the 2 Defendants’ photography policy is unconstitutional under the First 3 Amendment. To the extend Defendants move to dismiss Plaintiffs’ First 4 Amendment claims because they do not establish a pattern or practice 5 the motion is DENIED. Defendants did not move to dismiss the 6 remaining First Amendment claims. 7 • Defendants’ motion to dismiss Plaintiffs’ Fourth Amendment claims, to 8 the extent that Plaintiffs claim that Defendants photography policy 9 explicitly condones deletion of photographs, is GRANTED. Because 10 Plaintiffs cannot show that Defendants’ written policy condones deletion 11 of pictures, leave to amend would be futile, and this claim is thus 12 DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. Defendants motion to dismiss the 13 remainder of Plaintiffs’ Fourth Amendment claims is DENIED. 14 15 IT IS SO ORDERED. 16 17 DATED: September 30, 2013 18 19 Hon. Thomas J. Whelan United States District Judge 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 - 14 - 12cv2600w
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