California Ruling Limits Border Patrol Practices: “You Can’t Approach Individuals Based on Skin Color”

A federal court has imposed a preliminary injunction limiting the Border Patrol's ability to conduct unwarranted immigration stops in large areas of California. This decision follows an ACLU lawsuit after a problematic three-day sweep in Kern County. The ruling mandates that agents must have reasonable suspicion to stop individuals and prohibits warrantless arrests. During the court proceedings, U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer L. Thurston emphasized the unconstitutionality of targeting individuals solely based on appearance. The injunction also requires the El Centro Sector to document all stops and training protocols.