The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed federal agents to proceed with broad immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles, marking another legal victory for the Trump administration. The 6-3 decision overturned a lower court’s ruling that had blocked agents from targeting individuals based on race, language, job, or location during crackdowns.
The case centered on a restrictive order issued by U.S. District Judge Maame E. Frimpong, who cited “mountain of evidence” suggesting unconstitutional tactics during immigration sweeps. The lawsuit, filed by immigrant advocacy groups, alleged systemic discrimination against people of color during the Trump administration’s enforcement efforts in Los Angeles.
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority rejected arguments that the order improperly limited ICE agents’ ability to act on suspected illegal immigration. Department of Homeland Security attorneys defended the policy, stating officers target individuals based on unlawful presence, not race or ethnicity.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by two liberal colleagues, dissented, condemning the ruling as a failure to protect communities from “indignities” faced during stops tied to appearance, accents, or manual labor. The decision comes amid heightened ICE operations in Washington state and ongoing federal efforts to expand enforcement authority.
