Nepal UK
Photo: Reuters
Washington DC — The US Supreme Court has once again sided with President Donald Trump's approach to immigration, permitting federal agents to continue raids in Southern California. The court's brief and unsigned order effectively lifts a judge's ruling that had prevented agents from targeting individuals for deportation based on their race or spoken language.
The decision was swiftly criticised by liberal justices and California’s Governor Gavin Newsom. In a scathing dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that the ruling makes “all Latinos... fair game to be seized at any time.” Governor Newsom condemned the move as a “parade of racial terror,” accusing the court's majority of deliberately harming Californian families.
In contrast, US Attorney General Pam Bondi hailed the decision as a “massive victory,” stating that it would allow immigration officers to “continue carrying out roving patrols in California without judicial micromanagement.”
The ruling lifts a temporary restraining order issued by US District Judge Maame Frimpong, who had found that the Trump administration’s actions likely violated the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches. The lawsuit was filed by a group of Latino individuals, including some who are US citizens, who claimed they were stopped by agents based on their appearance and language.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California called the decision a “devastating setback” for communities who have been subjected to immigration stops based on “the colour of their skin, occupation, or the language they speak.”
Justice Brett Kavanaugh concurred with the majority decision but clarified that “apparent ethnicity alone cannot furnish reasonable suspicion,” although it can be a “relevant factor” when considered alongside other details.
The immigration raids have triggered widespread panic and street protests in immigrant communities, prompting the Trump administration to send military troops into Los Angeles in June.
