Trump Administration Seeks Supreme Court Intervention on Immigration Stops
The Trump administration has approached the Supreme Court to intervene in a ruling that limits immigration stops, a move that reportedly affected two U.S. citizens in Southern California. This request follows the refusal of an appeals court to lift a temporary restraining order that prevents authorities from conducting stops or arrests based on factors such as language or occupation.
This action is part of a series of emergency appeals from the Trump administration to the nation’s highest court, which has recently sided with the administration in several prominent cases.
The Department of Justice argues that federal agents have the right to consider these factors in enforcing immigration laws, particularly in Los Angeles, which has been labeled a “top enforcement priority.”
The administration has requested that the justices immediately suspend the order issued by U.S. District Judge Maame E. Frimpong in Los Angeles. Judge Frimpong cited a “mountain of evidence” indicating that the enforcement practices were unconstitutional, described by plaintiffs as “roving patrols.”
This lawsuit was initiated by immigrant advocacy groups, accusing the Trump administration of targeting individuals with brown skin in Southern California as part of its immigration crackdown.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer has contended that the order imposes undue restrictions on agents in an area with a significant number of undocumented individuals. “No one thinks that speaking Spanish or working in construction always creates reasonable suspicion … But in many situations, such factors—alone or in combination—can heighten the likelihood that someone is unlawfully present in the United States,” Sauer stated.
He further argued that the ruling contradicted a recent Supreme Court decision by imposing a broad injunction that affected the entire region rather than just the plaintiffs involved.
Attorneys from the Department of Homeland Security assert that immigration officers focus on individuals who are unlawfully present in the U.S., irrespective of their skin color, race, or ethnicity.
Judge Frimpong, nominated by President Joe Biden, has prohibited authorities from using factors such as apparent race, language proficiency, the presence at certain locations, or occupations as the sole basis for suspecting illegal immigration.
The Los Angeles area has been a focal point for the Trump administration following its stringent immigration policies, which have led to protests and the deployment of National Guards and Marines. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit included three detained immigrants and two U.S. citizens, one of whom, Brian Gavidia, was captured on video being detained by federal agents while asserting, “I was born here in the states, East LA bro!” He was released soon after, as was another citizen stopped at a car wash.
