Supreme Court Lifts Restraining Order, Paves Way for Expanded ICE Stops in Los Angeles

Lead The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday lifted a federal judge’s order limiting immigration stops in Los Angeles, allowing ICE agents to resume operations without race- or location-based restrictions.

Nut Graf By removing the nationwide injunction barring agents from making discretionary stops based solely on apparent race, language or location, the Court’s 6-3 decision marks a major shift in enforcement policy and underscores the high court’s willingness to curb lower-court injunctions.

Main Part

Subheading: Emergency Application Granted In a per curiam order, the justices stayed the Ninth Circuit’s July injunction, which had prohibited agents from targeting individuals based on four factors-race or ethnicity, speaking Spanish or accented English, presence in certain locations and type of work. Chief Justice John Roberts joined the conservative majority in granting the government’s emergency application.

Subheading: Concurrence Highlights Enforcement Concerns Justice Brett Kavanaugh, concurring, warned that “after-the-fact judicial second-guessing” would chill lawful immigration efforts. He stressed that while ethnicity alone cannot justify a stop, the “totality of the circumstances” may establish reasonable suspicion, citing factors such as local demographics and work patterns in Los Angeles County.

Subheading: Dissent Cites Civil-Rights Risks Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, warning that lifting the order could facilitate racial profiling and undermine Fourth Amendment protections. Sotomayor lamented that the decision “sanctions a dragnet” that ensnares U.S. citizens and lawful residents alike.

Subheading: Reactions and Next Steps Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the ruling, pledging to prohibit city cooperation with federal enforcement. California Attorney General Rob Bonta echoed concerns over racial discrimination. The underlying legal challenge will proceed in the Ninth Circuit, with a merits hearing expected this fall.

Bullet Points

  • 6-3 Supreme Court order stayed injunction blocking ICE stops in LA.
  • Injunction barred stops based solely on race, language, location or work type.
  • Concurrence: combined factors may support reasonable suspicion.
  • Dissent: decision risks unchecked racial profiling and constitutional overreach.
  • Local leaders vow resistance; full appeal to proceed this fall.