LA County Could Consider Legal Remedies for `Unlawful’ Immigration Enforcement

Calling it an attempt to “protect civil rights” of residents, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider a motion Tuesday that would direct its attorneys to explore legal remedies to prevent so-called “unconstitutional” federal immigration enforcement.

The motion introduced by Supervisors Hilda Solis and Lindsey Horvath states that since June 6, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel have intensified immigration raids in the county, detaining people on streets, at shopping sites, parking lots and churches, and have even attempted to enter schools.

The motion contends that more than 1,600 people have been detained during the operations.

“Over the last few weeks, federal agents, often in unmarked vehicles, without visible badges, in regular street clothes and masked faces, have detained people indiscriminately, at times even taking U.S. citizens,” the motion states. “This includes numerous reported instances of individuals questioned and detained without a judicial warrant and without reasonable suspicion.”

The motion also claims the raids have targeted established immigrant communities, with agents “racially profiling” residents “based on their appearance and/or the color of their skin.”

“When law enforcement officers stop, question, or detain someone without reasonable suspicion, or when they make an arrest without probable cause, they are violating that person’s constitutional and civil rights,” the motion adds.

Solis and Horvath contend that the raids have instilled fear in immigrant communities, preventing people from visiting public spaces, including schools reported to have reduced attendance.

“This is having a tremendous negative impact on our county’s economy and ability to provide for the health and welfare of our residents,” the motion reads.

If approved, the motion would direct county counsel to explore legal remedies to prevent “unconstitutional or unlawful” immigration enforcement activities, including “unlawfully stopping, questioning or detaining individuals without reasonable suspicion, or arresting individuals without probable cause or a valid warrant.”