Ninth Circuit Upholds Ban on ICE Appearance-Based Detentions Los Angeles

A federal appeals court has upheld a lower court ruling that restricts Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from detaining individuals in the Los Angeles area based solely on appearance, native language, job, or presence at certain locations, which the court found to violate Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. This decision temporarily blocks the Trump administration's ongoing mass deportation efforts and sweeping raids on businesses like car washes, which were targeted based on assumptions about hiring undocumented workers. The ruling affirms a temporary restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, emphasizing that broad profiling factors do not constitute reasonable suspicion or probable cause for detention. Plaintiffs, including day laborers and immigration advocacy groups, argued that ICE officers conducted intimidation and arrests without identifying themselves or stating legal grounds. The appeals court noted that ICE’s reliance on general factors such as race, ethnicity, accented speech, and job type was insufficient for lawful immigration enforcement actions. While workplace raids may continue, agents must now meet higher standards of suspicion before making arrests, marking a significant legal setback for the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.