The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday sided with President Donald Trump, allowing immigration officers to resume what critics call “roving patrols” in Southern California. Lower courts had blocked the practice, ruling it likely violated Fourth Amendment protections against unlawful searches.
The unsigned order, which came without explanation, was backed by the court’s conservative majority. The three liberal justices dissented sharply. At the center of the case were incidents in which armed, masked ICE agents stopped Latino residents including U.S. citizens near Los Angeles and questioned them about their legal status.
The ruling applies to seven California counties but comes amid a wider immigration crackdown under Trump. Homeland Security officials hailed the decision as a victory for law enforcement, while California leaders condemned it. Gov. Gavin Newsom accused the court of enabling “a parade of racial terror,” and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the ruling was “an attack on every person in every city.”
Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in a concurring opinion, argued that while ethnicity alone cannot justify suspicion, it may be considered as one factor in determining whether someone is in the U.S. unlawfully. He stressed that “reasonable suspicion” only allows officers to briefly question individuals.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a blistering dissent, warning that the decision erodes fundamental freedoms. Joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, she argued the ruling gives agents cover to detain people simply for “looking Latino” or speaking Spanish. She cited evidence that ICE officers had used firearms and intimidation during such operations, targeting both immigrants and citizens alike.
Civil rights groups, including the ACLU, also condemned the ruling, warning it could usher in a climate of fear across Southern California. “For anyone perceived as Latino,” said ACLU lawyer Cecillia Wang, “this means living under a ‘papers please’ regime.”
The decision marks one of nearly two dozen emergency appeals Trump’s administration has brought before the Supreme Court since his second term began, most tied to immigration policies. Critics, including Sotomayor, raised alarm that the court continues to issue major rulings without detailed reasoning, fueling concerns about transparency.
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