The US Supreme Court has lifted restrictions on immigration raids in Los Angeles, ruling in favour of the Trump administration and allowing federal agents to continue operations while legal challenges proceed.
In a 6–3 decision, the Court overturned a lower court order that had barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from stopping individuals without “reasonable suspicion.” The ruling permits agents to continue making stops in Los Angeles as part of ongoing immigration sweeps that began in June.
Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the majority, said that while ethnicity alone cannot constitute reasonable suspicion, it can be considered alongside other factors. The Court’s three liberal justices dissented strongly, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor warning that the ruling exposes many to being detained “simply because of their looks, their accents, and the fact they make a living by doing manual labour.”
The White House welcomed the decision, saying it would continue to pursue record-level deportations. California leaders expressed alarm. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the ruling “dangerous and un-American,” while Governor Gavin Newsom warned that the administration now had “a green light to come after your family.”
The case stems from a lawsuit filed by immigration advocacy groups, which argued the raids violated constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. District Judge Maame E. Frimpong had issued a temporary restraining order, citing evidence of racial profiling and indiscriminate “roving patrols.” The Supreme Court’s decision reverses that order, signaling the justices may ultimately find the administration’s actions constitutional.
Immigrant rights groups and plaintiffs expressed outrage. “I thought we had laws here about racial profiling,” said Brian Gavidia, a US citizen briefly detained during the raids. Armando Gudino, director of the Los Angeles Worker Center Network, said the decision effectively “legalised racism” and warned of national implications.
The Trump administration began the raids in June at workplaces such as Home Depot, prompting protests and civil unrest. Nearly 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines were deployed without state authorisation, an action later ruled illegal by a federal judge.
The administration has signalled that similar enforcement measures may be extended to other cities, including Washington, D.C., and Chicago, as part of its broader immigration and law-and-order agenda.