12th July 2025 – (Los Angeles) A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to halt widespread immigration stops and arrests across seven California counties, including Los Angeles, following allegations of unconstitutional practices. Judge Maame E. Frimpong’s decision comes in response to a lawsuit filed by immigrant advocacy groups accusing federal agents of using race-based tactics during immigration enforcement operations.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, alleges that federal agents have conducted warrantless arrests, targeted individuals based on their race, and denied detainees access to legal counsel. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) argues that these actions are driven by arbitrary arrest quotas and racial profiling. The filing highlights incidents where Latino individuals were detained solely based on their ethnicity, including raids at car washes, construction sites, and swap meets.
Plaintiffs in the case include three detained immigrants and two U.S. citizens. One of the citizens, Brian Gavidia, was reportedly assaulted while working in a predominantly Latino neighbourhood. Another plaintiff described a raid where federal agents detained all Latino workers at a car wash while sparing two white employees. ACLU attorney Mohammad Tajsar stated, “These actions exemplify the systematic racial targeting that violates constitutional rights.”
In defence, government attorney Sean Skedzielewski denied accusations of racial profiling, arguing that federal agents consider the “totality of circumstances,” including prior surveillance, when making arrests. He stated that operations are based on “targeted, individualised packages” and comply with the Fourth Amendment, with officers undergoing specific training to uphold constitutional standards.
The court’s order also addresses attorney access to the downtown Los Angeles Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, known as “B-18.” Advocacy groups claim they have been repeatedly denied entry to provide legal counsel to detainees. Mark Rosenbaum, a lawyer representing one of the advocacy groups, detailed incidents where attorneys were obstructed from assisting detainees, even on non-protest days. He criticised the facility’s inadequate food and sleeping arrangements, describing the conditions as coercive, designed to pressure detainees into signing deportation agreements without consulting legal counsel.
The crackdown has heightened anxiety among immigrant and Latino communities throughout Southern California. Federal raids have reportedly targeted workers in businesses such as Home Depot parking lots and cannabis farms. These operations have sparked public outrage, leading to demonstrations across the region, with tens of thousands rallying against the tactics and deployment of federal agents.
Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, dismissed claims of racial targeting as “disgusting and categorically false.” She said enforcement operations are “highly targeted” and based on due diligence rather than racial bias.
Judge Frimpong’s ruling builds on a prior court decision in April, which barred U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents from conducting warrantless arrests in parts of eastern California. The new order extends protections to Ventura County, where federal agents recently detained workers at a cannabis farm during a raid that escalated into violent clashes with protesters.
Attorneys general from 18 Democratic-led states have filed briefs supporting the court’s orders, underscoring the broader implications of the case. The legal battle signals ongoing tension over immigration enforcement and civil liberties, with advocacy groups vowing to hold the federal government accountable for its actions.