On the heels of intensifying immigration crackdowns in Southern California, a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday accuses the Donald Trump administration of unlawfully targeting communities of color with militarized tactics that have left neighborhoods “under siege.”
Filed by a coalition of Los Angeles immigrant rights groups, the suit seeks an immediate injunction to halt what it describes as racially motivated operations, including warrantless detentions, denial of legal counsel, and arrests made solely on appearance.
“These are unconstitutional street raids dressed as enforcement,” said Mohammad Tajsar of the ACLU of Southern California. “Armed, masked goons in unmarked cars have descended in our community and have stopped and rounded people up from all walks of life, often at gunpoint and without any justification.”
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As reported by AP, the lawsuit focuses on the experiences of three detained immigrants, two U.S. citizens, one of whom was held despite presenting valid ID, and multiple advocacy groups.
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Among the named incidents is the case of Los Angeles native Brian Gavidia, whose June 13 arrest was caught on video. In the footage, Gavidia is seen being shoved into a fence by agents as he yells, “I was born here in the states, East LA bro!”
The suit paints a bleak picture of detention conditions, citing reports of inmates so dehydrated they’ve been drinking toilet water, sleeping on concrete floors, and being fed only snacks like chips and cookies. Attorneys argue that detainees are pressured into signing voluntary deportation agreements without understanding their rights.
The Department of Homeland Security denied the claims outright. Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary, issued a statement dismissing the allegations as “disgusting and categorically FALSE,” asserting that “enforcement operations are highly targeted,” and that detainees receive “proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with lawyers and their family members.”
This legal challenge comes just days after the Trump administration sued the City of Los Angeles in an attempt to nullify its sanctuary city protections.
The car wash where the crackdown occurred has also become a focal point of public outrage. Emmanuel Karim, a manager at the business in southern L.A. County, described the June 22 raid in chilling terms.
“We thought we were being robbed,” Karim said during a press conference. “They never identified themselves. They rushed through restricted work zones with dangerous machinery. My employees panicked.”
Two workers were taken during that sweep, he said.
Attorneys hope to present their case in court within days and secure a restraining order that would halt federal operations across seven Southern California counties.
The legal action follows mass protests that drew tens of thousands demanding an end to the raids and the deployment of military forces. Los Angeles prosecutors have since charged more than 40 individuals in connection with the unrest, including assaulting police officers and horses. A 17-year-old boy now faces attempted murder charges.
Meanwhile, federal authorities have brought separate charges against at least 14 people for alleged attacks on law enforcement using cinder blocks, Molotov cocktails, and coordinated efforts to obstruct arrests.
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