Supreme Court lifts restraining order on LA ICE stops

The Supreme Court on Monday lifted a federal judge's restraining order that had limited Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the Los Angeles area, clearing the way for federal agents to resume broad immigration stops and detentions in a 6-3 decision. The unsigned, brief order reversed protections imposed in July by U.S. District Judge Maame E. Frimpong, who found evidence that roving patrols were conducting indiscriminate arrests in and around Los Angeles.

The Justice Department had asked the high court to set aside Frimpong's order, arguing it improperly restricted factors agents may consider when deciding whom to stop. Solicitor General D. John Sauer urged the justices to allow agents to consider the totality of the circumstances, saying reasonable suspicion is a low bar and that the order risked hamstringing enforcement. Frimpong's injunction barred stops based solely on apparent race or ethnicity, speaking Spanish or English with an accent, being at locations such as tow yards or car washes, or certain occupations.

Immigrant advocacy groups that brought the lawsuit have said the administration's operations amounted to systematic targeting of brown-skinned people...