The US Supreme Court has ruled sweeping immigration raids in Los Angeles can continue for now, lifting a federal judge's order that had barred agents from making stops without 'reasonable suspicion'.
The Monday ruling is a win for President Donald Trump, who has vowed to conduct record-level deportations of migrants in the country illegally. The 6-3 decision of the conservative-majority court allows agents to stop suspects based solely on their race, language, or job, while a legal challenge to the recent immigration sweeps in LA works its way through the courts.
The liberal justices dissented, saying the decision puts constitutional freedoms at risk.
Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in Monday's decision that the lower court's restraining order went too far in restricting how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents could carry out stops or questioning of suspected unlawful migrants.
Justice Kavanaugh noted that while apparent ethnicity alone cannot constitute reasonable suspicion, it could be a 'relevant factor' when combined with other factors.
The Supreme Court’s three liberal justices expressed strong dissent, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor stating that the ruling risks enabling racial profiling, as many individuals might be stopped simply because of their appearance or occupation.
Criticism has also come from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who called the ruling dangerous and un-American, stating it threatens personal freedom in the United States.
The decision lifts an order by US District Judge Maame E Frimpong, who had cited evidence of constitutional violations in the immigration raids and expressed concern over the legality of ICE's actions based on race or location.
Trump's administration began these immigration raids in June, which led to widespread protests and civil unrest, as well as an illegal deployment of National Guard troops into Los Angeles without California's authorization.
This recent ruling is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to enhance law enforcement presence across multiple US cities amidst an ongoing crackdown on immigration.
