Judge Blocks Warrantless Immigration Arrests in Washington, D.C.

mm(AURN News) — A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction barring the Trump administration from conducting widespread warrantless immigration arrests in Washington, D.C., according to reporting from The Associated Press.
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ruled that federal agents must obtain either an administrative warrant or have probable cause that a person is likely to flee before a warrant can be secured. The case was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups, who argued that officers had been patrolling Latino neighborhoods, establishing checkpoints and making indiscriminate arrests without proper legal justification.
Judge Howell, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, said the plaintiffs demonstrated a substantial likelihood that unlawful practices were occurring. The injunction also requires agents to document the specific facts supporting any future warrantless arrest and provide that documentation to attorneys representing the plaintiffs.
Similar injunctions have previously been issued in Colorado and California.

About the Author

Clay Cane

Clay Cane is an award-winning journalist, writer, radio host, and political commentator. A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in African-American Studies, his work on race, culture, and politics have appeared in national publications, including the Washington Post, CNN, and The Grio. Clay is a regular political commentator on MSNBC.

Clay Cane

More from AURN