If you drive in the Phoenix area, there is a question you may have asked yourself watching lights in the rearview mirror: was I stopped for how I drive, or for how I look? A federal judge has just said that question is still a fair one.
At Campos Law Firm, we closely monitor developments in U.S. immigration policy to protect our clients’ rights and future. Here is what is known, what is not, and what you can do.
What did the judge decide?
On September 11, 2026, U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow issued a 72-page ruling in Melendres v. Sheridan denying Maricopa County’s request to end court supervision of the sheriff’s office.
The oversight grew out of a 2013 judgment finding that twenty large-scale patrols conducted between January 2008 and October 2011, under then-Sheriff Joe Arpaio, discriminated against Hispanic drivers in metro Phoenix. Arpaio lost reelection in 2016; the current sheriff is Jerry Sheridan. The supervision has run about thirteen years.
Two nuances that matter and usually get lost:
- The denial was “without prejudice”: the county may ask again with more evidence, and has said it will appeal to the Ninth Circuit.
- The judge did not leave everything in place: he ordered the parties to meet within 60 days and identified 27 provisions that could be terminated and 57 that could move to inactive monitoring.
What did the court find about traffic stops?
The county argued that Arpaio’s immigration policies are gone and that its own studies show improvement. The judge questioned that methodology, which excluded the longest stops.
Under the independent analysis the court accepted, the disparities persist: Hispanic drivers still face longer stops — the Associated Press reports a 4.7-minute difference compared with white drivers — and the ruling also describes higher likelihoods of arrest and of being searched. The judge concluded the sheriff’s office had not satisfactorily explained those gaps.
On formal compliance the progress is real: the policy and training phase is at 100%, 156 provisions are in full compliance, and the internal affairs backlog fell from more than 2,100 cases to roughly 256. But 46 provisions remain unmet and operational compliance runs between 68% and 84%.
In other words: the manuals changed, but the judge was not persuaded that outcomes on the street have fully changed with them.
Does this change immigration law?
No — and it is worth saying clearly, so nobody builds false expectations.
This is a civil rights case, not an immigration one. It does not alter grounds of deportation or filings with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and it does not undo immigration proceedings already underway.
What it does is set limits on how a local agency may act: state or county police may not stop someone based on appearance or language in order to check immigration status. And it documents, with data, that the limit is still necessary thirteen years later.
It is also a reminder that a cooperation agreement with ICE — a so-called 287(g) agreement — does not authorize a local agency to bypass the Constitution.
What are your rights during a traffic stop?
This is the practical part, and it applies in any state:
- Pull over somewhere safe, turn off the engine, keep your hands visible: lower the window and avoid sudden movements.
- Provide license, registration and insurance: those are the documents you do have to hand over when driving.
- You have the right to stay silent about your birthplace and your status: you can calmly say you prefer not to answer questions without a lawyer.
- Do not consent to a vehicle search: say “I do not consent to a search.” If they search anyway, do not resist — your attorney litigates that afterward.
- Never show false documents or claim citizenship you do not have: falsely claiming U.S. citizenship creates permanent inadmissibility.
- Write everything down as soon as you can: time, place, agency, patrol number, officers’ names and badge numbers, and any witnesses.
If you believe you were stopped because of profiling, those notes are the foundation of a complaint to the agency, to prosecutors, or to a civil rights organization. It is worth reviewing it with an attorney before filing.
Protect Your Rights with Campos Law Firm
Thirteen years of court supervision teach something uncomfortable: changes in the manuals arrive long before changes on the street. In the meantime, knowing what you can and cannot do at a stop remains the most practical protection you have.
At Campos Law Firm we explain your rights in plain terms, review whether an incident affected your immigration case, and stand with you if you decide to file a complaint. We do not make unrealistic promises. We provide serious legal representation backed by preparation and integrity.
Do not leave your immigration status to chance. Call us today at +1 (844) 922-6767 to schedule a free, confidential consultation in English or Spanish. Campos Law Firm: Legal Solutions in All Areas of Law.
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