US Appeals Court Upholds Ban on Federal Immigration Arrests in Los Angeles

A federal appeals court has upheld a temporary restraining order that blocks the Trump administration from conducting immigration-related arrests in Los Angeles without probable cause, particularly barring detentions based solely on race, ethnicity, language, or presence at certain locations such as bus stops or day laborer sites. This ruling follows lawsuits by Los Angeles, other municipalities, and immigrant advocacy groups accusing federal agents of racial profiling and unlawful tactics to meet immigration arrest quotas. The court affirmed that the administration's enforcement tactics likely violate constitutional protections and that the federal government cannot rely on appearance or language as the sole basis for detention. The decision sustains a lower court order issued by Judge Maame E. Frimpong, who also barred the denial of immigrants' right to access legal counsel during detention. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the ruling a victory that protects communities from aggressive and discriminatory enforcement raids. The case continues as Judge Frimpong plans a hearing to consider a longer-lasting preliminary injunction.