Motel 6 may be getting its toughest review of all time. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is suing the chain for sharing guests’ personal information with federal officials—specifically, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, officials.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson said Wednesday that Motel 6’s “actions are disturbing and they are unlawful.” He says the motel divulged to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement the names, dates of birth, license plate numbers and room numbers of more than 9,000 guests at six locations throughout the state. He says at least six guests were detained.
Ferguson says the company’s actions violated the state’s consumer protection law
So far, Ferguson has knowledge that six Washington locations shared information with ICE.
The guest lists released by Motel 6 included customers' names, room numbers, guest identification numbers, dates of birth, license plate numbers -- all information that the Attorney General believes is protected under Washington state law.
How’s ICE using that information?
ICE used the information to detain six people who stayed at two Everett-area hotels, but, said Ferguson: "We expect that number to be higher."
There’s almost certainly worse to come.
At present, the AG has information that four of the six motels released personal information of at least 9,151 guests to ICE
Nor is Motel 6’s breach of privacy necessarily limited to Washington state.
Motel 6 said in September that its employees in Phoenix would no longer work with ICE, but Ferguson says management knew employees in Washington were trained to give authorities information. Motel 6 did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
If other locations shared the same bad practices, perhaps Ferguson will find himself banding together with his Democratic attorney general colleagues once more. The state attorneys general have led some of the most significant lawsuits against Trump—including the travel ban challenge—and show no signs of slowing down.