In Charlotte, North Carolina, immigration enforcement has led to heightened fear within the community, as evidenced by increased Border Patrol presence and the closure of some Latino-owned businesses. Since the implementation of “Operation Charlotte’s Web,” over 130 people have been arrested, prompting concerns about racial profiling and the targeting of Hispanic communities. Detainees, including those with and without criminal histories, have been sent to detention centers, with some potentially facing transfer to Louisiana due to overcrowding. Community members, like Jonathan Ocampo, are living in fear, with some carrying their passports as a precaution.
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In Iowa, a Native American woman was mistakenly issued an ICE detainer in her jail file, despite proving her U.S. citizenship, which nearly resulted in a wrongful transfer. The incident, involving a 24-year-old from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, exposed the potential for errors within the 287(g) program, where local law enforcement assists ICE. While the Polk County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged the error, the Department of Homeland Security vehemently denies the detainer, creating conflicting accounts. Jacobo’s family is considering legal action, raising further questions about the program and potential racial profiling within the system.
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A US citizen and construction worker, Leo Garcia Venegas, has filed a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration after being detained twice by immigration agents in Alabama. The lawsuit challenges workplace raids targeting industries with large immigrant workforces, alleging unconstitutional enforcement tactics and targeting based on appearance and ethnicity. Despite providing identification, Venegas was detained in raids where agents allegedly lacked warrants and focused on Latino-looking workers. The Department of Homeland Security dismissed the suit, asserting that arrests are based on legal status, not race.
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On a Sunday afternoon, dozens of federal agents patrolled downtown Chicago, making arrests near well-known landmarks. According to a U.S. Border Patrol official, agents considered a person’s appearance when deciding to make an arrest. The highly visible operation, occurring after Border Patrol boats appeared on the Chicago River, sparked controversy and protests. Despite this, an official stated the operation was intended to make the city safer.
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The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, has allowed the Trump administration to use racial profiling in its immigration raids, overturning an injunction against targeting Latinos. Justice Sotomayor dissented, warning of the unconstitutional implications and potential for violence against Latinos, including U.S. citizens. This decision, made without explanation, impacts the “Operation at Large” in Los Angeles, which targeted individuals based on their ethnicity, language, and work, thereby violating Fourth Amendment protections. The court’s silence and Kavanaugh’s misrepresentation of the situation highlights the far-reaching consequences for those affected by these raids.
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In a strongly worded dissent to the Supreme Court’s decision, Justice Sonia Sotomayor criticized the authorization of racial profiling by immigration agents, deeming it unconstitutional. She highlighted documented instances of physical force used by ICE agents in Los Angeles, who targeted individuals based on their appearance, language, and perceived profession. Sotomayor condemned the ruling, arguing it would subject countless individuals to unjust treatment, and directly challenged Justice Kavanaugh’s characterization of the ICE raids. Furthermore, Sotomayor asserted that the decision wrongly placed the burden on citizens to prove their legal status, effectively creating a second-class citizenship, in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
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The Supreme Court ruled that federal immigration agents do not need reasonable suspicion to target individuals for immigration detention, opening the door to racial profiling. This decision overturned a lower court order that restricted ICE agents in Los Angeles from making arrests based on racially loaded categories. Justice Kavanaugh wrote the opinion, stating that factors like ethnicity, language, and occupation, combined with the high number of illegal immigrants in the area, could contribute to “reasonable suspicion.” Justice Sotomayor dissented, arguing that the ruling allows the government to target Latinos and those in low-wage jobs, disregarding Fourth Amendment protections.
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The Supreme Court has decided to allow federal agents to continue with sweeping immigration operations in Los Angeles for now, overturning a judge’s order that had limited the practice. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in the majority opinion that the lower court’s restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were too broad, although he noted that apparent ethnicity alone cannot furnish reasonable suspicion. Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, claiming the decision subjects people in the Los Angeles area to potential mistreatment based on their appearance. The ruling comes as ICE agents increase enforcement, with the lawsuit continuing in California.
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The Trump administration has requested the Supreme Court to stay a federal judge’s order that restricted immigration agents in Los Angeles from stopping individuals based on factors like “apparent ethnicity” and language. This case centers on whether immigration agents can use such characteristics as part of the “reasonable suspicion” standard for detentions. The litigation stems from arrests at a bus stop in June, leading to a temporary restraining order by a district judge, which was then unsuccessfully challenged in the 9th Circuit. The Supreme Court is now considering whether to allow agents to continue using these factors while the lawsuit proceeds.
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ICE agents are using factors like speaking Spanish or working in construction to heighten the likelihood of someone being unlawfully present in the United States. This practice is implemented to ramp up enforcement of immigration laws within the district. Despite denials, critics argue that ICE’s actions reveal racial motivations and a priority of detaining Latinos indiscriminately. Tactics such as detaining individuals without verifying their immigration status are raising concerns.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
ICE Under Scrutiny for Targeting Native Americans for Deportation
In Iowa, a Native American woman was mistakenly issued an ICE detainer in her jail file, despite proving her U.S. citizenship, which nearly resulted in a wrongful transfer. The incident, involving a 24-year-old from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, exposed the potential for errors within the 287(g) program, where local law enforcement assists ICE. While the Polk County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged the error, the Department of Homeland Security vehemently denies the detainer, creating conflicting accounts. Jacobo’s family is considering legal action, raising further questions about the program and potential racial profiling within the system.
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