A federal judge has ruled that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been making stops and arrests in Los Angeles immigration raids without probable cause, ordering the department to cease detaining individuals based solely on their race, spoken language, or occupation.
US District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, appointed by former President Joe Biden, stated that DHS must develop guidelines for officers to determine “reasonable suspicion” outside of apparent race or ethnicity, language, accent, presence at a particular location, or type of work.
The ruling follows a case brought by the ACLU of Southern California on behalf of five individuals and immigration advocacy groups, alleging unconstitutional arrests and denial of access to attorneys.
The temporary restraining order applies to the seven-county jurisdiction of the US Central District of California, including Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Judge Frimpong emphasized that the administration “failed” to provide information about the basis for the arrests, stating, “This Court decides—based on all the evidence presented—that they are.”
The Trump administration had argued that DHS agents initiate stops based on intelligence or “trend analysis,” not on race or ethnicity. However, Judge Frimpong pressed the government to provide evidence that arrests were based on actionable intelligence rather than targeting areas where undocumented immigrants are presumed to gather, questioning, “It’s hard for the court to believe you couldn’t find one case with a report of why someone was targeted.”
In a separate temporary restraining order, Judge Frimpong blocked DHS from denying detainees access to counsel, including visits and calls, in a holding facility referred to as “B-18.” Immigration advocacy groups had raised concerns about detainees being held in inhumane conditions without access to beds, showers, or medical facilities.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin criticized the ruling, saying, “A district judge is undermining the will of the American people.” Conversely, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass praised the ruling, with Newsom stating, “California stands with the law and the Constitution — and I call on the Trump Administration to do the same.” ACLU attorney Mohammad Tajsar emphasized, “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”.
The ruling is seen as a significant step in defending the rights of all individuals in California, amid rising tensions over immigration raids. The Trump administration has been aggressively cracking down on immigration, calling for ICE to expand deportation efforts and deploying National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to protests.