A federal judge in California has ordered the Trump administration to cease "indiscriminately" detaining individuals suspected of being in the US illegally. This ruling, part of a temporary restraining order issued on Friday, also mandates that immigration officials provide access to legal counsel for those detained.
The case originated from a lawsuit filed by three immigrants, arrested at a Pasadena bus stop while seeking employment, and two US citizens—one of whom identified themselves with an ID. Following the court's decision, the Department of Homeland Security criticized the judge's actions via social media, claiming she was undermining the public’s will.
In her emergency order, US District Judge Maame Frimpong highlighted that there is substantial evidence suggesting law enforcement officials have been conducting "roving patrols," which involve arresting individuals without reasonable suspicion, a practice deemed unconstitutional.
Judge Frimpong stated that arrests cannot be based solely on race, ethnicity, language, or simply being present in certain locations like bus stops or car washes. Her ruling comes amidst heightened enforcement efforts by the Trump administration, especially in California, a region frequently pointed out by President Trump.
The intensified immigration raids in Los Angeles have faced considerable backlash, with protests arising from incidents such as a recent raid on a marijuana farm that resulted in over 200 arrests, including minors, and injuries among farm workers. Human rights advocates have condemned these actions as discriminatory and unlawful.
Mohammad Tajsar, a senior attorney for the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, remarked that every individual deserves constitutional protections against arbitrary stops, irrespective of their background. However, the government maintains its focus on removing serious criminals as part of its aggressive immigration enforcement strategy, aiming for what it describes as the "largest deportation" campaign in US history.
