ACLU sues to halt ICE raids targeting ‘brown skin’ immigrants in Los Angeles area
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of California has taken legal action against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by filing a class-action lawsuit that demands an immediate halt to what it describes as unlawful immigration raids across the Los Angeles area that specifically target migrants with “brown skin.”
According to the non-profit organization, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been conducting unconstitutional raids and subjecting migrants to inhumane conditions, including depriving them of beds, food, and legal counsel. The ACLU alleges that ICE has been targeting individuals based on their skin color, detaining them without proper warrants, and using excessive force during the apprehension process.
In response to the lawsuit, Homeland Security has refuted all claims, stating that any accusations of racial profiling are “disgusting and categorically false.” ICE has defended its actions, claiming that the raids are necessary to meet certain arrest quotas and maintain national security.
Since June 6, ICE has reportedly arrested around 1,500 immigrants in the Los Angeles area, including Latino day laborers, car wash workers, farmworkers, and vendors. The ACLU’s lawsuit accuses the federal government of violating the constitutional rights of these individuals and subjecting them to harsh conditions in overcrowded detention facilities.
The lawsuit specifically targets the use of a holding facility known as “B-18,” which the ACLU describes as a “dungeon-like” environment with cramped, windowless rooms. The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to halt the raids, prevent the use of the B-18 center, and hold the federal government accountable for racial profiling and due process violations.
The defendants named in the lawsuit include Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and various regional ICE, CBP, and FBI officials operating in Los Angeles. The lawsuit was filed by a coalition of individual immigrants and immigrant advocacy organizations, led by the ACLU and the non-profit Public Counsel.
Los Angeles has become a focal point in the fight against President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies. Protests in the city have at times turned violent, with clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators resulting in property damage and arrests.
The ACLU’s lawsuit comes amid ongoing protests against ICE operations in Los Angeles, with hundreds of activists shutting down the Sixth Street Bridge and demanding an end to immigration raids. The protesters carried signs and chanted slogans calling for ICE to leave the city.
In response to the lawsuit, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin has denied the allegations, stating that claims of racial profiling and poor conditions at ICE detention centers are “false.” She emphasized that all detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and access to legal representation.
Despite the legal battle and ongoing protests, the issue of immigration enforcement remains a contentious and divisive issue in Los Angeles and across the country. The ACLU’s lawsuit represents a significant challenge to the federal government’s immigration policies and raises important questions about civil liberties and due process rights for immigrants.
