The legal dispute, Noem v. Perdomo (25A169), centers on ICE operations in the California district that includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area. In her July 11 order, Judge Frimpong barred ICE agents from detaining individuals in areas like store parking lots unless they have reasonable suspicion of undocumented status.

Her ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by Southern California residents, day laborers, and immigration advocacy organizations who argued that ICE’s practices amounted to racial profiling. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals left most of Frimpong’s restrictions in place.

U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer, representing the administration, argued in court documents that the judge’s order “significantly interferes with federal enforcement efforts” in one of the most populous regions of the country.

Broader Implications For Immigration Policy

The Trump administration’s petition reflects ongoing legal battles over immigration enforcement tactics. If the Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, it could set a precedent on how far ICE agents can go in conducting field operations without prior evidence.

Civil rights groups have supported the district court’s ruling as a protection against discriminatory enforcement, while the administration views it as an obstacle to securing the nation’s borders and managing unlawful migration flows.