A federal judge in Los Angeles has issued two temporary restraining orders to stop immigration officers from making arrests based on race, ethnicity, or job type. The decision came after civil rights groups accused immigration agents of detaining people without proper cause. The ruling also requires agents to provide detainees with access to legal counsel every day of the week.
The orders were signed by U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, who was appointed by President Joe Biden. The judge ruled that federal agents may no longer stop people in Southern California without reasonable suspicion that they are in the U.S. illegally. Race, language, or being at places like bus stops or work sites can no longer be used as the sole reasons for these stops.
The lawsuit behind the decision was filed by attorneys from Public Counsel and the ACLU. It claims that federal agents conducted “roving patrols” and detained people without proper evidence or warrants. Plaintiffs said they were targeted based only on their appearance or where they were working. Two men said they were arrested by masked, armed agents simply while sitting at a bus stop.
One of the court orders demands that detainees be allowed to speak privately to attorneys without being monitored. These calls must also be free and available seven days a week. Judge Frimpong noted that the right to legal counsel is guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution and cannot be denied.
During a court hearing, a government attorney denied the accusations, saying that immigration officers base their actions on a full review of the facts. But Judge Frimpong criticized the lack of clear information from the government, saying she wanted more specific details about how these stops were justified.
ACLU attorney Mohammad Tajsar told the court that the majority of the stops were happening to Latino individuals. He said agents were stopping people first and asking questions later. The judge responded by expressing concern that high-level officials might be supporting such actions.
The government also defended agents’ use of masks during raids. Officials claimed it was to protect the identities of officers from being publicly exposed, a process known as “doxing.”
Public Counsel attorney Mark Rosenbaum described the situation as one of the worst civil rights violations in recent memory. He said the mass detentions and panic within immigrant communities in the past month are unlike anything seen before in the U.S.
The lawsuit was filed on July 2 in Los Angeles. It represents Southern California residents and workers who say they were unlawfully detained. Several city and county officials have now pledged to join the legal fight.
The complaint targets U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It accuses them of unconstitutional raids and of denying basic rights to those arrested.
In response, the White House released a statement defending ICE officers. It praised their efforts to remove violent criminals from communities and criticized what it called unfair attacks on their work.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials also rejected claims that agents acted based on race. They insisted that their actions follow strict guidelines and that detention facilities meet high standards. DHS blamed recent criticism for increasing threats against ICE officers.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass responded to the situation by signing an executive order. It directs all city departments to follow the city’s sanctuary policies, which prohibit using city resources for federal immigration enforcement. The mayor also asked each department to submit plans within two weeks to prevent federal immigration activity on city property.
Activists gathered in downtown L.A. on Friday to call for justice. Many have claimed that those held by ICE face harsh conditions and are denied legal rights. For the past month, faith leaders and community groups have held daily gatherings to support immigrant rights and demand an end to unlawful arrests.
The court’s ruling is temporary, but many hope it leads to a permanent change in how immigration enforcement is carried out in Los Angeles and beyond.
