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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The video of a Black college student’s violent arrest in Florida, captured by a camera mounted in his vehicle, has spurred an investigation and calls for motorists to record interactions with law enforcement. Civil rights attorneys emphasize the importance of such recordings, as they can provide crucial context and evidence often missing from police reports, as demonstrated by the video. The incident, where the officer’s body cam didn’t fully capture the punches, highlights the limitations of body cameras and the potential for in-car cameras to offer a broader perspective. Experts like former NYPD Lieutenant Christopher Mercado advocate for utilizing technology to protect oneself, and that a camera inside a driver’s car could offer a unique point of view.
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A U.S. citizen was detained by federal agents in downtown Los Angeles while on her way to work, prompting outrage from her family who witnessed the arrest. The family reported the agents didn’t identify themselves and that the arrest seemed racially motivated. Authorities claim the arrest occurred after Velez assaulted an ICE enforcement officer and interfered with the arrest of an undocumented individual. Family members remain concerned about Velez’s whereabouts and the length of time it may take for her to be released.
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Sheriff Wayne Ivey’s recent threat to kill anti-ICE protesters follows a pattern of alleged misconduct. Past accusations against Ivey include racial profiling leading to false arrests, alleged cover-ups of deaths in custody, and bribery attempts involving campaign contributions. Further controversies involve the refusal to cooperate with families of shooting victims and alleged attempts to influence local elections through job offers. These incidents paint a picture contradicting Ivey’s self-proclaimed image as a “constitutional sheriff.”
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John Q. Hosedrinker