LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – A U.S. federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions in Los Angeles, citing a lack of probable cause in arrests carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, appointed by former President Joe Biden, ruled that ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must immediately stop arrests based solely on an individual’s race, language, or occupation.
The TRO stems from a lawsuit filed last week by the ACLU of Southern California on behalf of five individuals and immigrant advocacy groups. The suit alleges that DHS agents made unlawful arrests and denied detainees access to legal counsel.
As part of the order, Judge Frimpong directed DHS to create clear guidelines to help officers determine what qualifies as “reasonable suspicion” during arrests conducted in public places such as bus stops or work areas.
The ruling applies to seven counties within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Central District of California, including Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
The FBI and Department of Justice, also named in the lawsuit due to their involvement in immigration enforcement operations, are covered under the TRO as well.
Legal experts say the order could mark a significant check on federal immigration powers and signal broader judicial scrutiny over law enforcement practices that may target individuals based on racial or ethnic profiling.
The Trump administration has not yet issued a formal response to the ruling.
