Supreme Court Allows ICE Racial Profiling, Justice Sotomayor Dissents

The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 conservative-majority decision, lifted a federal judge's order that barred ICE agents from conducting immigration stops without reasonable suspicion, effectively allowing stops based on race, language, or job. This ruling is a significant victory for President Donald Trump's administration, which has prioritized aggressive deportations. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, strongly dissented, condemning the decision as a green light for racial profiling, particularly targeting Latinos, including U.S. citizens, working low-wage jobs. Sotomayor highlighted documented instances of ICE using physical force and detentions during raids in Los Angeles, criticizing Justice Brett Kavanaugh's characterization of these encounters as mere brief stops. She warned that the ruling undermines Fourth Amendment protections and shifts the burden of proof onto individuals to prove their legal status, resulting in unjust treatment and disruption of lives. The dissenters expressed concern that the court bypassed the normal appellate process and failed to provide adequate explanation for such a consequential ruling.