Federal Judge Temporarily Halts Immigration Raids in California, Citing Constitutional Concerns
A federal judge issued a temporary halt to immigration raids in Los Angeles and several other California counties on Friday, July 5, after ruling in favor of a civil rights lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union. The ruling centers on concerns that federal agents were violating the constitutional rights of individuals during enforcement actions.
U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, in her ruling, stipulated that federal agents cannot conduct stops unless they have “reasonable suspicion that the person to be stopped is within the United States in violation of U.S. immigration law,” as required by the Fourth Amendment. The judge specifically determined that agents may not solely rely on factors such as “apparent race or ethnicity,” whether an individual is “speaking Spanish or speaking English with an accent,” or their “presence at a particular location” – including common gathering spots like bus stops or agricultural sites – when deciding to initiate a “detentive stop.”
The ACLU and other immigrant rights groups alleged in their legal filing that federal agents were arresting individuals based solely on skin color, conducting raids without warrants, and denying detainees access to legal counsel. “No matter the color of their skin, what language they speak, or where they work, everyone is guaranteed constitutional rights to protect them from unlawful stops,” stated an ACLU attorney.
Lawyers representing the Trump administration disputed these claims during the trial. The U.S. Department of Justice has not yet commented on whether the federal government intends to appeal the ruling.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, in a post to X following the judge’s decision, affirmed that federal agents will continue to enforce the law while adhering to the U.S. Constitution. “We strongly disagree with the allegations in the lawsuit and maintain that our agents have never detained individuals without proper legal justification,” Essayli wrote.
California Governor Gavin Newsom hailed the ruling as a victory for justice, stating it temporarily stops federal immigration officials from violating people’s rights and engaging in racial profiling. Judge Frimpong issued two temporary restraining orders, preventing agents from making stops without reasonable suspicion and mandating that the Department of Homeland Security provide access to counsel for those detained at the downtown Los Angeles federal building.
The judge, appointed by President Biden, was critical of the previous administration’s actions in her ruling. “Roving patrols without reasonable suspicion violate the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution and denying access to lawyers violates the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution,” she wrote. “What the federal government would have this Court believe—in the face of a mountain of evidence presented in this case—is that none of this is actually happening.”
The lawsuit’s central figure is Brian Gavidia, a resident of Montebello who was detained by immigration agents last month. Gavidia recounted that even after proving his American citizenship, his phone was confiscated.
Los Angeles, along with seven other cities – Culver City, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood – and Los Angeles County, joined the ACLU’s lawsuit, arguing that the raids also infringe upon a Constitutional amendment protecting states’ rights to manage their judicial systems. Loyola Law professor Jessica Levinson explained that the core argument isn’t about the federal government’s power to enforce immigration law, but rather how it is being enforced, and whether it violates due process.
Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles released a statement celebrating the court’s decision, calling it a step toward restoring safety, security, and defending the rights of all residents. “We went to court against the administration because we will never accept these outrageous and un-American acts as normal,” she said.
Representing the municipalities in the case is former U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada, also appointed by President Biden. The lawsuit further alleges that ICE operations have incurred tens of millions of dollars in expenses for the cities, including overtime costs. Los Angeles County has already incurred $9 million in extra costs since enforcement actions began on June 6, stemming from lost tax revenue and law enforcement resources, with officials comparing the economic impact to that of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the operations began in June, ICE and CBP have arrested 2,792 individuals in the Los Angeles area, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
[Image of protestors demonstrating against ongoing ICE raids while blocking the Sixth Street Bridge between Boyle Heights and downtown L.A. on July 1. Getty Images]
