Judge Limits Ice's Authority for Warrantless Arrests in Socal

WHO:

Fox News - U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong issued the ruling.

ABC News - The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, Public Counsel, and Los Angeles immigrant advocacy groups.

WHAT:

Fox News - A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking ICE from carrying out warrantless immigration arrests unless the target is likely to escape before a warrant is obtained.

ABC News - The order blocks immigration officers from making warrantless arrests unless they determine the person is likely to escape.

ABC News - Frimpong ordered the government to document the probable cause leading to an arrest before a warrant could be obtained.

WHERE:

ABC News - The order applies in the Central District of California, which includes Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties.

WHEN:

ABC News - The preliminary injunction was granted on Sept. 2.

ABC News - A hearing was held on Aug. 13.

WHY:

ABC News - The lawsuit was filed during an unprecedented surge of immigration enforcement in the region.

ABC News - Frimpong stated that the mere fact that someone is in the country illegally is not enough to justify a warrantless arrest.

HOW:

ABC News - Frimpong indicated that the government must consider the “totality of the circumstances known to the agent or officer” regarding a person's likelihood of escape before making a civil immigration arrest without a warrant.

ABC News - The government was required to document the likelihood of escape, as indicated by Frimpong's order.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 16:01 UTC)

A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking ICE from conducting warrantless immigration arrests in the Central District of California, which includes major areas like Los Angeles and Orange County, unless they can demonstrate that the individual is likely to escape before a warrant can be obtained. This ruling, made by Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, requires the government to document the probable cause for an arrest and consider the totality of circumstances before proceeding without a warrant. The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and other immigrant advocacy groups, comes amid a significant increase in immigration enforcement in the region.