A Biden-appointed federal judge is on track to temporarily restrict immigration enforcement operations across parts of Southern California, following claims that federal agents targeted Latinos in public spaces without legal cause.
The decision, still tentative, would apply across seven counties in California’s Central District.
The ruling would sharply limit Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol from conducting raids at places like bus stops, car washes, tow yards and home improvement stores unless there is “reasonable suspicion” of a violation of immigration law.
Presiding over the case is U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, who has already issued two temporary restraining orders.
The first halts so-called “roving patrols,” and the second is aimed at ensuring detainees have access to legal representation.
A final ruling could come as early as Friday, Courthouse News reports.
At the center of the lawsuit is an accusation by the ACLU and a group of plaintiffs who say that ICE agents routinely detained individuals based solely on their appearance, language or presence in largely Latino-populated areas.
They argue that such tactics amount to unconstitutional racial profiling.
According to ACLU attorney Mohammad Tajsar, agents allegedly conducted raids at everyday locations where people gather for work or transit.
“The evidence is clear that they’re looking at race. They aren’t going to admit that on the record,” Tajsar told the court.
Justice Department attorney Sean Skedzielewski disputed that characterization, stating ICE relies on intelligence gathering and surveillance, not just superficial traits.
“Agents can’t put blinders on,” he said, referring to how ICE personnel assess public settings.
Judge Frimpong raised concerns during hearings about the lack of federal documentation explaining why specific individuals or locations were targeted.
She also noted that ICE does not keep records of stops and arrests in the same way other federal law enforcement agencies, like the FBI, typically do.
The ACLU claims that masked, heavily armed agents have been operating without warrants, sometimes detaining individuals—including U.S. citizens—for days in a downtown Los Angeles holding facility known as “B‑18.”
Legal access, the plaintiffs say, has often been denied during this time.
Several Southern California municipalities have formally backed the lawsuit, including Pasadena, Montebello and West Hollywood.
City officials argue that federal enforcement has become a tool to punish sanctuary jurisdictions that limit cooperation with ICE.
Public reaction to the raids has intensified in recent weeks, with protests erupting in Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
Demonstrators have accused federal agents of using excessive force and targeting communities based solely on ethnicity.
In response to the unrest, National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines were deployed to assist with crowd control and logistical support.
The Department of Homeland Security reports more than 1,600 individuals were arrested over the past month in related operations, per Courthouse News.
The court’s final decision could set a significant legal precedent for how immigration enforcement is conducted in public spaces within sanctuary regions.
Legal observers note that any permanent restrictions could also influence how ICE conducts surveillance and operations nationwide going forward.
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Author: Gloriel Howard
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