Federal Judge Blocks Immigration Raids in Los Angeles Amid Racial Profiling Allegations

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Imae Credit: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images

A federal judge has issued a sweeping temporary injunction against the Trump administration’s controversial immigration raids in Southern California, citing overwhelming evidence that federal agents have been targeting individuals based solely on race, accent, and occupation in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

The ruling, delivered by U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, comes in response to a class-action lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Public Counsel, and other advocacy organizations. The plaintiffs allege that agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Border Patrol, and other federal agencies have been unlawfully detaining thousands of individuals including U.S. citizens without warrants or reasonable suspicion.

“This is an extraordinary victory,” said Mark Rosenbaum, a senior attorney at Public Counsel. “It is a complete repudiation of the racial profiling tactics and denial of due process rights that this administration has employed.”

Since early June, immigration agents have carried out aggressive operations in Latino-dominated neighborhoods across Los Angeles and six surrounding counties. Witnesses and plaintiffs describe federal officers in unmarked vehicles pulling people off sidewalks, from bus stops, and out of workplaces often without explanation or identification requests.

In one case, Pedro Vasquez Perdomo, a construction worker, said he and his co-workers were waiting at a bus stop when masked agents suddenly rushed toward them. “They handcuffed me before even asking for my ID,” he stated in a sworn declaration. Though later released, Vasquez Perdomo now faces deportation proceedings.

Judge Frimpong’s order, effective immediately, prohibits federal immigration officers from making arrests without reasonable suspicion and mandates that all detainees be given immediate access to legal counsel. While temporary, the ruling significantly limits the administration’s ability to carry out further raids as the case moves forward.

In court, ACLU attorney Mohammad Tajsar presented multiple videos and declarations showing ICE agents detaining individuals who “look Latino” without prior investigation. “They’re engaging in roving patrols where they stop people first and ask questions later,” said Tajsar. “Race is clearly a factor in these operations.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), however, criticized the decision. Spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin called it “an attempt by a single judge to undermine the will of the American people,” insisting that agents are removing dangerous criminals from communities. DHS also stated that agents are trained to evaluate the “totality of circumstances,” not just physical appearance.

But Judge Frimpong was unconvinced. “The government has not presented clear reasons for the arrests,” she said during Thursday’s hearing. “What they are considering must provide reasonable suspicion, and I’m not seeing that.”

Tensions escalated recently when Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) was removed by security after interrupting a DHS press conference, demanding accountability for the raids. Meanwhile, video footage of the arrests many posted on social media continues to fuel public outcry.

Legal experts say it remains unclear whether federal agents will alter their tactics following the court order. Civil rights attorneys have pledged to monitor compliance and hold the government accountable if violations persist.

As the legal battle unfolds, the case could set a significant precedent regarding immigration enforcement and constitutional protections in the United States particularly in racially diverse, immigrant-rich cities like Los Angeles.