Unconstitutional Acts 

Diya Ravi

July 11, 2025

On Friday, Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, found that the Department of Homeland Security has been making arrests and stops in Los Angeles immigration raids without probable cause. He ordered the department to stop detaining individuals solely based on spoken language, race, or occupation after a lawsuit was filed on June 18th by three men who were waiting to be picked for a job interview at a bus stop in Pasadena. 

The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) of Southern California brought a case against the Trump administration on behalf of five people and immigration advocacy groups. Friday's ruling comes from this, alleging that DHS (which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has made unconstitutional arrests. In Frimpong’s order, he stated that the administration “failed” to explain why they made the arrests. 

Frimpong’s order prevents the detention of people unless the officer or agent “has reasonable suspicion that the person being stopped violates the U.S. immigration laws.” These officers and agents may not base the suspicion solely on apparent race or ethnicity. The lawsuit against DHS was filed because the federal government under Donald Trump has been aggressively making immigration arrests in Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California. 

The ACLU hailed the restraining order as a significant victory for the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution. “Regardless of the color of their skin, the language they speak, or the occupation they hold, all individuals are entitled to certain rights under the Constitution that protect them from unlawful actions and behaviors,” stated Mohammad Tajsar, who is a senior staff attorney with the ACLU Foundation of Southern California. He further added, “It is evident to anyone observing the situation that armed groups of masked individuals have continuously infringed upon the rights of everyday citizens throughout Southern California. Nevertheless, we remain hopeful that today’s ruling could signify a step forward in holding the federal government accountable for the lawlessness and violations that have unfortunately become far too familiar in our communities.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, both prominent members of the Democratic Party, have recently voiced their strong opposition to the ongoing federal immigration initiatives taking place in Southern California. Mayor Bass has specifically expressed that these actions are designed to instill fear and create an atmosphere of terror among immigrant communities. In contrast, the Trump administration has provided various justifications for its crackdown on unauthorized individuals, defending its controversial measures as necessary for national security and public safety. The clash between local leaders and federal policies highlights deep divisions regarding immigration enforcement.