Judge likely to bar warrantless immigration raids in Southern California

In a hearing on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong signaled she is inclined to grant a preliminary injunction that would halt immigration agents from conducting warrantless arrests in Southern California unless they can demonstrate a probable flight risk. The tentative ruling stems from a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, Public Counsel and private attorneys seeking to end what they describe as unlawful mass arrests and to protect due-process rights.

Department of Justice representative Daniel Mummolo argued that no such policy exists and urged the court to deny the injunction, also requesting a 14-day stay to consider an appeal to the Ninth Circuit. Plaintiffs’ lawyer Laura Perry Stone asked the judge to require agencies to evaluate both the chance of immediate escape and the ability to locate the individual later, emphasizing the importance of community-ties assessment. The case adds to a growing wave of federal judges in Portland, Colorado, Washington D.C. and the Eastern District of California who have blocked similar practices.