Local leaders react to Supreme Court ruling

After the Supreme Court overturned the U.S. District Judge Maame E. Frimpong’s restraining order on immigration agents from stopping people solely based on their race, language, job or location, local and national leaders call the decision dangerous and un-American.

“I want the entire nation to hear me when I say this isn’t just an attack on the people of Los Angeles, this is an attack on every person in every city in this country,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said. “Today’s ruling is not only dangerous – it’s un-American and threatens the fabric of personal freedom in the United States of America.”  

In July, Frimpong placed a restraining order on “roving patrols” of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting raids in and around L.A.  

The order barred immigration agents from stopping people based solely on their race, language, job or location. 

Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote the majority opinion, saying that the order went too far in restricting how ICE agents could make stops. 

“Justice Kavanaugh’s concurrence is outrageous and unbefitting to any jurist committed to the Constitution,” MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) president and general counsel Thomas A. Saenz said. “First, his opinion rests on crude and unsupported assumptions and stereotypes about the undocumented; no stay of an order requiring compliance with the Constitution should rest on such a lack of evidence. Second, he completely disregards the consequential demographic fact that millions of citizens and lawful residents of the Los Angeles community are also Latino and also speak Spanish.  In effect, Kavanaugh sacrifices the rights of all Latinos to the false Trumpist idol of unconstrained immigration enforcement. Third, he ignores other demonstrated and critical context, like the fact that many of those detaining and questioning folks were in unmarked vehicles, masked and in civilian clothes. That is a relevant consideration as to how these activities – including racial and language stereotyping – are occurring in a lawless and dangerous manner.” 

Saenz also said Cavanaugh’s statement on excessive force is “ludicrous.”

“Today’s decision will catalyze activity that will lead to widespread violations of clear constitutional rights, including the ban on undue force.”  

MALDEF is representing Job Garcia, a Los Angeles resident, who was held for more than 24 hours after agents violently arrested him at a Home Depot where he was making a delivery.  

Bass said the ruling allows federal agents to racially profile Angelenos with no due process.  

“This decision will lead to more working families being torn apart and fear of the very institutions meant to protect – not persecute – our people.”