A federal court has issued a temporary injunction blocking immigration enforcement tactics in several California counties, ruling that the practice of stopping individuals without suspicion likely violates constitutional protections. The decision prompted swift praise from Governor Gavin Newsom, who called it a major step toward justice.
The ruling, issued Friday in the case of Vasquez Perdomo, et al. v. Noem, prohibits federal immigration officers from conducting suspicionless stops in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties. Critics have long argued these tactics disproportionately target Latino communities and violate civil rights.
In a statement released by the Governor’s Office, Newsom welcomed the decision and framed it as a necessary check on federal overreach.
“Justice prevailed today — the court’s decision puts a temporary stop to federal immigration officials violating people’s rights and racial profiling,” the governor said.
Newsom took aim at the immigration policies associated with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, describing the administration’s approach as one of “chaos, cruelty, and fear.”
“Instead of focusing on the most dangerous individuals, federal officials have been arbitrarily detaining Americans and hardworking people, tearing families apart and throwing people into detention centers — all to meet arrest quotas, without regard to due process or constitutional protections,” Newsom added. “That must stop now.”
Legal Challenge Highlights Civil Rights Concerns
The lawsuit at the center of the court ruling alleges that federal agents engaged in unlawful stops without probable cause, disproportionately targeting Latino residents and violating the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.
Newsom emphasized that the case underscores California’s commitment to civil liberties and constitutional law, urging the federal government to respect those same principles.
“California stands with the rule of law and the values this country was founded on,” he said. “I call on the Trump administration to do the same.”
The temporary injunction marks a significant development in the broader legal fight over immigration enforcement in sanctuary jurisdictions like California, where state and local leaders have pushed back against federal immigration crackdowns.
The court will continue reviewing the case in the coming weeks as legal proceedings move forward.
