A federal judge in Alabama has issued a ruling that puts new limits on how immigration agents can operate in the state, ordering U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to halt raids that aren’t backed by a judicial warrant. The order also applies to U.S. Border Patrol agents working in the region.
Under the ruling, anyone detained during an immigration sweep who can prove they are legally in the country—using documents such as a REAL ID, the federally compliant identification card most U.S. states now issue—must be released immediately. The REAL ID, which many Americans use for boarding domestic flights or entering federal buildings, is being recognized here as valid proof of lawful status.
The decision stems from a lawsuit filed by a U.S. citizen who says he was wrongfully detained three separate times during immigration enforcement operations, despite having every legal right to be in the country. His case highlighted concerns that aggressive enforcement tactics were sweeping up citizens and legal residents alongside undocumented immigrants.
The ruling adds to a growing list of legal challenges against expanded immigration enforcement tactics across the country, as courts weigh how far agencies can go without individualized judicial authorization.
For more details on the case and its implications, read the full story at El Diario de Hoy.
Source: Juez federal de Alabama ordena frenar redadas de ICE sin orden judicial (El Diario de Hoy).
Image: Ken Lund, BY-SA 2.0 (via Openverse).