Immigrant stops in Los Angeles no longer subject to restrictions following Supreme Court decision, after federal agents mistakenly detained American citizens.
The Supreme Court has lifted a restraining order that barred federal agents from conducting immigration operations in Los Angeles, a decision that has sparked controversy among immigrant advocacy groups.
The lawsuit, which will continue to unfold in California, was filed by these groups who accused the Trump administration of systematically targeting brown-skinned people. The plaintiffs included three detained immigrants and two U.S. citizens, one of whom is Los Angeles resident Brian Gavidia.
Gavidia was shown in a June 13 video being seized by federal agents while yelling, "I was born here in the States. East LA, bro!" He was later released about 20 minutes after showing agents his identification. Another citizen stopped at a car wash was also released after showing identification, according to the lawsuit.
The order prohibited agents from stopping people based on race, language, job, or location. It also barred authorities from using factors like apparent race or ethnicity, speaking Spanish or English with an accent, presence at a location such as a tow yard or car wash, or someone's occupation as the only basis for reasonable suspicion for detention.
The Trump administration argued that the order wrongly restricted the factors that ICE agents can use when deciding who to stop. Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued the order can't stand under the high court's recent decision restricting universal injunctions.
The Department of Homeland Security attorneys claim that immigration officers target people based on illegal presence in the U.S., not skin color, race, or ethnicity. However, the plaintiffs argue that the order only prevents federal agents from making stops without reasonable suspicion, which aligns with the Constitution and Supreme Court precedent.
The order, issued by Judge Frimpong who was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden, covers a combined population of nearly 20 million people, nearly half of whom identify as Hispanic/Latino. Recent operations, such as one in which agents jumped out of a rented box truck and made arrests at an LA Home Depot store, have raised concerns about the increased frequency of immigration raids in the Los Angeles area.
Despite the Supreme Court's decision, the lawsuit is expected to continue, with the plaintiffs disagreeing with Solicitor General D. John Sauer's argument about the order. The controversy underscores the ongoing debate about immigration enforcement and its impact on communities across the United States.
