ACLU Files Federal Lawsuit Over Alleged Racial Profiling in LA Immigration Raids
ACLU Files Federal Lawsuit Over Alleged Racial Profiling in LA Immigration Raids
Immigrant advocates and civil rights lawyers have filed a federal class-action lawsuit alleging widespread racial profiling by immigration agents in Southern California. The suit, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and other legal groups, claims agents are targeting individuals based on their skin color or apparent occupation during deportation crackdowns.
The lawsuit comes amid mounting evidence and numerous reports of agents raiding known hubs for Latino workers, such as hardware store parking lots, car washes, and street vendor corners. Videos posted on social media by bystanders have frequently shown agents arresting individuals who appear to be Latino, even as they stand on sidewalks or wait at bus stops.
Eva Bitran, director of immigrants’ rights at the ACLU of Southern California, stated that there is a “real sense that it is open season on anyone who appears to be an immigrant.” She added that agents are reportedly corralling people before asking questions, often handcuffing individuals even after they assert U.S. citizenship or legal residency.
The Department of Homeland Security, through Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin, has vehemently denied claims of racial profiling. McLaughlin asserted that DHS enforcement operations are “highly targeted” and that any claims of individuals being targeted due to skin color are “categorically FALSE.”
However, legal experts like Jean Reisz, professor of immigration law at the University of Southern California, contend that indiscriminate sweeps may violate Fourth Amendment protections. While agents can question individuals about their status, arrests without a warrant require “reasonable suspicion” based on articulable facts, not solely on race or appearance.
The lawsuit highlights incidents such as the June 19 arrest of Emma de Paz, a street vendor, and the June 12 detention of U.S. citizen Javier Ramirez, who was handcuffed and charged despite asserting his citizenship. These cases, say advocates, underscore a pattern of agents cutting corners to meet ambitious arrest quotas, leading to the wrongful detention of U.S. citizens and legal residents.
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