The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday denied the Trump administration’s emergency request to lift a federal injunction that limits how immigration agents conduct enforcement operations in Southern California.
In a unanimous decision, the three-judge panel upheld restrictions that prevent federal agents from targeting individuals during immigration raids based on ethnicity, language, or location — such as standing outside a Home Depot or working at a car wash.
Under the ruling, agents must demonstrate specific probable cause to make an arrest, rather than relying on broad suspicions about someone’s citizenship status.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass praised the court’s decision, calling it “a victory for the rule of law and for the City of Los Angeles.”
“The Temporary Restraining Order that has been protecting our communities from immigration agents using racial profiling and other illegal tactics when conducting their cruel and aggressive enforcement raids and sweeps will remain in place for now,” Bass said in a statement.
“We must still fight for justice,” she added. “Los Angeles will stand together against this Administration’s efforts to break up families who contribute every single day to the life, the culture and the economy of our great city. No matter what, I will continue to stand by you and fight for your rights, your dignity and your place in this city we all call home.”
The court’s decision comes in the wake of recent immigration raids at local businesses in Los Angeles, which triggered widespread protests and criticism of the administration’s aggressive deportation strategy.
In response to growing unrest, approximately 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines were dispatched to the area. Most have since been withdrawn following a reduction in demonstrations, despite ongoing concerns from state and local officials.
The legal dispute began last month when the administration was sued over alleged “unlawful stop-and-arrest practices” and “illegal conditions of confinement.” In response, a federal judge issued two temporary restraining orders, including one barring agents from conducting raids based solely on the presence of Spanish-speaking Hispanic individuals at a particular location.
Arguing the restrictions hampered enforcement efforts, administration attorneys filed an emergency appeal claiming the injunction would cause “irreparable harm” and constrain immigration officials in a “straitjacket.” The court rejected that argument on Friday.
During the hearing, a judge pressed the government’s attorney about reports of a 3,000-arrest-per-day quota, referencing remarks made by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller during a May interview on Hannity.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are looking to set a goal of a minimum of 3,000 arrests for ICE every day, and President Trump is going to keep pushing to get that number up higher each and every single day,” Miller said at the time.
