Elian Gonzalez Excessive-Force Suit Dismissed

A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit claiming federal agents used excessive force in an armed raid to seize Elian Gonzalez at the home of his Miami relatives four years ago. An order issued Monday by U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke concluded the six agents who conducted the raid were legally immune to the lawsuit, and she found no constitutional violations. Federal agents removed Elian, then 6, from the family's home before dawn in April 2000, five months after he was rescued from the Atlantic. His mother and others died trying to reach Florida by boat. The lawsuit alleged the raid team broke down the front door unannounced, sprayed irritating gas, held people at gunpoint and shouted obscenities at unarmed relatives, supporters and news media. [more ]