Esperanza worked for 15 years at an MSB before setting up her own small business in south San Diego, Novedades y Servicios. She and her family work at a small storefront helping customers cash checks, wire money worldwide, and get money orders. Many of her customers do not have bank accounts. They come to cash checks from their jobs; to wire money to their families; and to take out money orders for things like paying the rent.
Now, a federal reporting requirement targeted at border businesses threatens her livelihood. She is suing with IJ to protect her Fourth Amendment rights.
Related Case
4th Amendment Project | Economic Liberty | Private Property
FinCEN Border Cash Surveillance
Esperanza Gomez and Arnoldo Gonzalez, Jr. run small businesses near the U.S.-Mexico border that provide everyday, small-dollar financial services—often for customers without bank accounts. In San Diego, Esperanza helps customers cash checks (often to buy…