UnidosUS Condemns SCOTUS Ruling to Lift Restrictions on ‘Roving’ ICE Raids in Los Angeles

The decision will fuel racial profiling and unjustified stops. 

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed rulings from a federal district court in California and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that had barred immigration enforcement agents from using race, ethnicity, language, location or occupation as the sole basis for stopping individuals across Southern California.  

UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía issued the following statement: 

“Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court undermines constitutional protections and opens the door to more indiscriminate stops and arrests. It authorizes targeting by authorities that makes all immigrants, Hispanics and other non-white Americans, suspects simply because of the color of their skin or the language they speak. In doing so, the Court has put the civil rights of every person in the United States at risk. 

“These types of tactics have already traumatized families, violated fundamental rights and led to the wrongful detention of U.S. citizens and other lawful residents. This decision gives a green light to discriminatory enforcement that erodes trust in public institutions.  

“The Supreme Court, without proper review or explanation, has signaled that the administration can, with impunity, use profiling-based tactics nationwide. It also continues to undermine the Court’s own role as a check against unlawful actions. As Justice Sotomayor wrote in dissent, ‘We should not have to live in a country where the Government can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low wage job.’ 

“We urge Congress to fulfill its oversight duty and mitigate the damage of these enforcement actions. State leaders and local jurisdictions must use every legal and policy tool available to ensure that immigration enforcement is not used as an excuse to violate the rights and safety of all communities across the country.”  

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