Supreme Court Allows Resumption of Immigration Raids in California
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for federal agents to resume roving immigration patrols in California, reversing a lower-court order that had temporarily barred the practice. Critics say the raids, concentrated in Los Angeles, amount to racial profiling and unjustly target Latino communities.
The unsigned order, backed by the Court’s conservative majority, offered no explanation. All three liberal justices dissented, warning that the decision undermines constitutional protections. Although the Supreme Court lifted the restriction, the case remains active in the lower courts and may eventually return to the justices for a final ruling.
The dispute began when a lower court found that federal agents were detaining individuals based on little more than their appearance, language, or presence at day-labor gathering sites. That court required specific justification for arrests, calling the raids discriminatory and unlawful.
California leaders condemned Monday’s ruling. Governor Gavin Newsom accused the Court of legitimizing racial targeting, calling it “a deliberate attempt to hurt California’s diverse communities.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass labeled the decision an “attack on civil liberties,” arguing it undermines trust in the rule of law.
The patrols have already stirred controversy this year. Masked agents carrying heavy weapons were reported conducting raids at farms, car washes, and home improvement stores. Journalists documented one incident in which agents concealed themselves inside a moving truck outside a Los Angeles home furnishings store before making multiple arrests. Rights groups said those swept up included U.S. citizens and legal residents.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in a concurring opinion, said unauthorized immigration was “especially pronounced in the Los Angeles area.” Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the Court’s first Latina member, dissented sharply: “We should not have to live in a country where the Government can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low-wage job.”
Immigrant rights advocates warn that the ruling will embolden further sweeps, while legal challenges continue to contest whether such raids are consistent with constitutional protections.
