Key facts
- ICE officers were informed on Tuesday that vehicle stops related to immigration enforcement have been suspended.
- A federal judge temporarily blocked federal agents from using racial profiling for immigration arrests in several California counties.
- The ruling covers Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties.
- The White House plans to challenge the ruling, stating that immigration policy authority rests with Congress and the President.
- The Trump administration has expanded partnerships with local law enforcement to conduct immigration arrests.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were informed on Tuesday that vehicle stops related to immigration enforcement in the United States have been suspended, according to two sources briefed on the matter. This development follows a federal judge's ruling that temporarily blocked federal agents from using racial profiling to carry out indiscriminate immigration arrests in several California counties.
U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong issued the ruling against the Trump administration, stating that agents were using race, language, a person's vocation, or location, such as a car wash or Home Depot, to form "reasonable suspicion" for detaining individuals. The order covers Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties. Governor Gavin Newsom praised the decision, calling it a temporary stop to federal immigration officials violating people's rights. The White House, however, announced its intention to challenge the ruling, asserting that federal judges do not have the authority to dictate immigration policy.
In parallel, the Trump administration has expanded its efforts to enlist state and local law enforcement agencies in its deportation campaigns through programs like 287(g). These agreements deputize local officers to inquire about immigration status and detain individuals suspected of being undocumented, often with financial incentives. Reports indicate thousands of officers have been credentialed across 31 states, extending ICE's reach beyond its typical operational areas. Despite these efforts, groups monitoring immigration sweeps reported none following the judge's ruling in California.