A federal judge has issued a significant injunction against the Trump administration, blocking immigration officers from conducting widespread arrests in Washington DC without proper legal justification.
Judge Halts "Unlawful" Arrest Policy
Late on Tuesday, US District Judge Beryl Howell granted a preliminary injunction sought by civil liberties and immigrant rights groups. The ruling targets the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) practice of making civil immigration arrests in the nation's capital without warrants or probable cause to believe the individual is an imminent flight risk.
Judge Howell, who was nominated by former President Barack Obama, stated the plaintiffs had "established a substantial likelihood of an unlawful policy and practice" by the defendants. She found a systemic failure to apply the legal standard required by the Immigration and Nationality Act, directly violating both the law and DHS regulations.
Allegations of Indiscriminate Patrols
The lawsuit, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and others, argued that federal officers were routinely patrolling and establishing checkpoints in DC neighbourhoods with large Latino immigrant populations. The plaintiffs alleged that officers were then stopping and arresting people indiscriminately.
Evidence included sworn declarations from individuals reportedly arrested without warrants or a required assessment of their risk of fleeing. The plaintiffs also cited public statements from administration officials which, they argued, demonstrated a disregard for the probable cause standard.
Attorneys for the Trump administration denied the existence of any official policy permitting such arrests.
Strict New Documentation Requirements
Beyond blocking the contested policy, Judge Howell's order imposes strict new requirements on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating in Washington DC. Any agent conducting a warrantless civil immigration arrest must now document the specific facts that supported their pre-arrest belief that the person was likely to escape before a warrant could be obtained.
The judge further mandated that this documentation be submitted to the plaintiffs' attorneys, ensuring oversight and accountability.
This ruling aligns with similar injunctions in federal lawsuits involving the ACLU in Colorado and California. It follows a separate, now-lifted restraining order in Los Angeles that had barred agents from stops based solely on race, language, or location.
The case highlights the ongoing legal battles over the scope of federal immigration enforcement powers, particularly in sanctuary cities and districts like Washington DC.
