Judge Blocks Indiscriminate Immigration Raids in California

A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to stop making indiscriminate immigration arrests in seven California counties, including Los Angeles.

The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by immigrant advocacy groups challenging the legality of recent enforcement operations.

The plaintiffs in the case include three immigrants currently detained and two U.S. citizens, one of whom was allegedly held by immigration agents despite presenting valid identification.

The lawsuit accuses the administration of engaging in racial profiling and violating constitutional rights.

The case, filed in U.S. District Court, seeks to block the federal government from conducting immigration raids using what the plaintiffs describe as unconstitutional methods.

These include detaining individuals based solely on race, making arrests without warrants, and denying detainees legal counsel, according to the New York Post.

Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, denied the allegations. She stated that accusations of racial targeting by law enforcement are “disgusting and categorically FALSE.”

McLaughlin defended the immigration operations, saying agents conduct thorough background checks and that the enforcement actions are “highly targeted.” She insisted that agents act on specific information when carrying out arrests.

Judge Maame E. Frimpong, who issued the ruling, also blocked the administration from limiting attorney access at a Los Angeles immigration detention center. Her decision came one day after a hearing where advocacy groups argued that the administration violated the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.

Communities in Southern California, particularly among Latino populations, have expressed fear and anger over the increased enforcement activity. Recent raids have occurred at places like car washes, parking lots, and job sites. National Guard and Marines have also been deployed in some areas.

The judge’s order also includes Ventura County, where federal agents detained busloads of workers at a cannabis farm while the court hearing was ongoing. The incident led to confrontations between agents and demonstrators, resulting in injuries.

The American Civil Liberties Union, one of the groups involved in the lawsuit, alleges that the arrests are driven by a racial quota and that agents are operating on harmful stereotypes. They claim immigration enforcement has lacked clear legal justification in many cases.

In one instance, the three immigrant plaintiffs were reportedly arrested solely based on their Latino appearance and work attire resembling construction labor. Witnesses described federal agents detaining people at swap meets and Home Depot locations based on how “Hispanic” they looked.

ACLU attorney Mohammad Tajsar said U.S. citizen Brian Gavidia, one of the plaintiffs, was assaulted by immigration agents without cause. Gavidia had been working at a tow yard in a predominantly Latino neighborhood when he was detained.

Tajsar cited testimony from a car wash employee who noted that agents detained all workers except two white individuals. He argued this raised serious concerns about racial discrimination in enforcement actions.

Government attorney Sean Skedzielewski denied that agents used race as a factor. He stated that arrests were based on a range of factors, including prior surveillance and field intelligence.

Skedzielewski said agents also relied on “targeted, individualized packages” when making arrests. He emphasized that immigration enforcement follows strict Department of Homeland Security policies.

He added that all agents receive training to ensure compliance with the Fourth Amendment’s protections against unlawful searches and seizures.

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