Border Patrol agents may not consider a driver's Hispanic appearance when deciding whether to stop someone for suspected smuggling or illegal entry, a federal appeals court has ruled. Because Hispanics make up a large and growing part of the population, ethnicity is irrelevant in deciding whether there is reasonable suspicion to stop them, the 9th US. Circuit Court of Appeals said in issuing its 7-4 ruling Tuesday.

"Stops based on race or ethnic appearance send the underlying message to all our citizens that those who are not white are judged by the color of their skin alone ... that they are in effect assumed to be potential criminals first and individuals second," Judge Stephen Reinhardt said.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/a/AP...c-Drivers.html