The White House has announced plans to appeal a federal court ruling that mandates the Trump administration to halt immigration arrests made without probable cause. This decision follows a lawsuit alleging that the administration specifically targeted residents of California based on race, language, and employment status.
Residents of Latino descent have increasingly faced scrutiny, being stopped, detained, or asked to prove their citizenship in various communities across the United States. This surge in immigration enforcement aligns with President Trump’s broader initiative for mass deportations, raising significant concerns about racial profiling and civil rights violations.
In a statement released to Axios on Saturday, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson asserted that no federal judge holds the authority to dictate immigration policy, which she claims is the prerogative of Congress and the President. Jackson emphasized that immigration enforcement operations necessitate meticulous planning and execution, which she argues are beyond the jurisdiction of any judge. “We expect this gross overstep of judicial authority to be corrected on appeal,” she stated.
U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong delivered a ruling on Friday, concluding that the plaintiffs in the lawsuit were likely to demonstrate that the federal government is conducting roving patrols without reasonable suspicion, thus denying residents their right to legal counsel. The judge has mandated the Department of Homeland Security to develop guidance that defines reasonable suspicion and ensures that accused residents can access legal counsel during holidays, weekends, and weekdays.
The lawsuit was initiated by five workers and several advocacy groups, including the Los Angeles Worker Center Network, United Farm Workers (UFW), and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights. Following the ruling, UFW President Teresa Romero expressed her support, stating, “Farm workers rise before dawn to feed this country—there is no labor more dignified. No one should be targeted, profiled, or terrorized for being brown and working hard.”
Recent immigration raids targeting Latino communities in Southern California and beyond have sparked widespread protests in various U.S. cities. In response to the escalating unrest, Trump deployed approximately 4,000 National Guard members and hundreds of Marines to the Los Angeles area last month.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, commented on the situation in a statement to Axios on Saturday, claiming that a district judge is undermining the will of the American people. She asserted that “brave men and women are removing truly the worst of the worst from Golden State communities.” It is important to note that federal law prohibits arrests and detentions unless there is reasonable belief that a crime has been committed.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been accused of racial profiling in its detentions of Latino U.S. citizens, a troubling trend that highlights ongoing concerns about immigration policies and their impact on communities of color. As the legal battle unfolds, the implications for immigration enforcement practices remain significant.
