The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday denied the Trump administration’s emergency request to lift a federal injunction that limits federal immigration agents in Southern California from targeting migrants based on characteristics such as ethnicity or language.
The court’s ruling upholds the restrictions on federal agents during immigration raids in the Los Angeles area, preventing them from targeting individuals based on ethnicity, accent, language, or location. This includes locations like Home Depot or car washes. Federal agents are now required to have specific probable cause for making an arrest instead of generalized suspicion about a person’s citizenship status.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass praised the court’s decision as a win for the rule of law and the city. She emphasized the importance of protecting communities from immigration agents who use racial profiling and illegal tactics during enforcement raids.
Recent immigration raids in the Los Angeles area sparked unrest, leading to the deployment of National Guard soldiers and Marines to control protests. Despite opposition from state and local leaders, most of the National Guard troops and all Marines have been withdrawn.
The Trump administration faced a lawsuit over alleged unlawful stop-and-arrest practices, resulting in temporary restraining orders issued by a federal judge to halt generalized raids. The administration’s appeal to pause the injunction was denied by the court, citing potential irreparable harm and constraints on immigration officials.
During court arguments, a judge questioned the existence of a reported 3,000 daily quota for immigration-related arrests, which the government lawyer denied. The quota policy was referenced from comments made by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller on a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity.
Overall, the court’s decision maintains restrictions on federal immigration agents in Southern California, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law and protecting communities from racial profiling and illegal tactics during immigration raids.
