This week, a federal judge put a stop to immigration arrests without judicial warrants conducted by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in seven counties across Southern California. This decision marks a significant setback to the Trump administration's aggressive deportation policies.
Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong of the Central District of California issued the preliminary injunction on September 2 in the case of Vasquez Perdomo v. Mullin. However, the details of the ruling were not disclosed to the public until last Wednesday.
The injunction affects the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo.
New Standards for ICE Arrests
Under the new order, ICE agents can only conduct civil arrests without a warrant if they first determine, on an individualized basis, that there is probable cause that a person is undocumented and likely to flee before a warrant can be obtained. This decision mandates that agents document their assessments in each case and move away from relying on a January 2026 memo from then-acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, which unlawfully suggested that undocumented status alone was enough to presume a flight risk.
The trial presented overwhelming evidence: nearly 80% of the 113 arrest records submitted by the government lacked any assessment of flight risk or were filled with generic language. Judge Frimpong noted that "federal agents regularly refrain from conducting any probability of flight analysis whatsoever."
Challenges to Government Claims
One specific incident highlighted the flawed process: the government claimed a detainee was "fleeing" from agents before being questioned. However, video footage showed the individual walking calmly and texting when approached. When federal attorney Daniel Mummolo argued there was no legal obligation to document the evaluation, Judge Frimpong bluntly responded, "There is no evidence of agents saying: 'Yes, I didn't write it down, but I did it.'"
Furthermore, Judge Frimpong dismissed the government's request to pause or delay the order for an appeal, certifying the case as a class action covering all people arrested without a warrant and without individualized assessment since June 6, 2025.
Community Response and Legal Action
The lawsuit, filed in July 2025 by five Latino workers and three organizations—the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), the Los Angeles Worker Center Network (LAWCN), and the United Farm Workers (UFW)—along with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California and other advocacy groups, was a response to unprecedented operations that included raids on farms in Oxnard and Coachella.
Mayra Joachin, an attorney with the ACLU of Southern California, declared, "This ruling is one of the most significant to date in our community's effort to end the federal government's cruel and illegal practice of abducting people and tearing them from their families."
Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers, added, "More than a year ago, farmworkers in Southern California endured weeks of horrific attacks based on the color of their skin. This decision reaffirms that those illegal and racist raids should never have happened."
This ruling aligns with similar decisions previously issued by federal judges in Oregon, Colorado, Washington D.C., and the Eastern District of California, forming a growing judicial opposition to the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign. The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to requests for comments regarding the ruling.
FAQs on ICE Arrests and Judicial Rulings
What counties are affected by the judge's ruling?
The ruling impacts the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo in Southern California.
What does the judge's order require ICE agents to do?
The order requires ICE agents to individually assess if there is probable cause for a person being undocumented and a flight risk before conducting an arrest without a warrant. Agents must also document this assessment.
Who filed the lawsuit against ICE's warrantless arrests?
The lawsuit was filed by five Latino workers, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), the Los Angeles Worker Center Network (LAWCN), the United Farm Workers (UFW), and the ACLU of Southern California, among other advocacy groups.