Judge Blocks Biased Immigration Raids in Los Angeles

A U.S. federal judge has delivered a major blow to immigration enforcement practices in Los Angeles, ruling that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can no longer carry out stops and arrests based on a person’s race, language, or occupation.

In a landmark decision on Friday, U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, an appointee of President Joe Biden, issued a temporary restraining order halting the controversial practices, which she found to be unconstitutional.

The ruling, limited to the seven-county Central District of California, comes after a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Southern California on behalf of five individuals and advocacy groups. The suit accused the Trump administration of racially biased immigration raids and denying detainees access to legal representation.

Judge Frimpong strongly criticised DHS for failing to show any “reasonable suspicion” behind many of the arrests. “The court decides—based on all the evidence presented—that they are conducting roving patrols without lawful grounds,” she stated in her ruling.

She further directed DHS to develop new guidelines for determining “reasonable suspicion” and to stop relying on general factors such as race, language, a person’s job, or location—such as bus stops—to initiate detentions.

The ruling also applies to the FBI and Department of Justice, which were listed in the lawsuit due to their roles in immigration enforcement. The court also ordered DHS to maintain detailed arrest records and provide them regularly to the plaintiffs' legal team.

In a separate order, Judge Frimpong blocked DHS from restricting detainees’ access to legal counsel while being held at a facility referred to in court as “B-18.” Reports had surfaced that detainees there were denied phone calls, visits, and basic amenities like beds and showers.

During Thursday’s hearing, the judge appeared doubtful of government claims that the arrests were based solely on intelligence or trend analysis. “It’s hard to believe you couldn’t find one report explaining why someone was targeted,” she said.

A DHS spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, criticised the ruling, saying it “undermines the will of the American people.” The ruling comes as President Donald Trump intensifies his crackdown on immigration, recently directing ICE to increase deportations in Democratic-led cities and deploying National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to protests.

California Governor Gavin Newsom praised the ruling on X, stating, “California stands with the law and the Constitution.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also welcomed the judgement, calling it “an important step toward defending the rights of all Angelenos.”

Mohammad Tajsar, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Southern California, hailed the decision, saying, “No matter their skin colour, language, or job, every person is protected by the Constitution from unlawful stops.”