A federal court blocked federal agents from making suspicionless and racially discriminatory immigration stops in Southern California. For readers following claims, the decision sets temporary stop rules and does not open a payout claim. A preliminary injunction is a temporary court order that controls conduct while a lawsuit continues. It is not a final verdict or a class settlement.
Table of Contents
- What did the judge prohibit?
- Where does it apply and who is covered?
- Is there a claim to file now?
- What could pause or change the order?
What did the judge prohibit?
U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong signed the preliminary injunction on Oct. 23, 2026. It became public on Oct. 29 in Vasquez Perdomo v.
Mullin. The ACLU of Southern California reports it bars suspicionless and racially discriminatory stops press release from the ACLU of Southern California. Agents must have individualized reasonable suspicion based on the totality of circumstances. They may not detain a person based solely on apparent Latino identity plus low-income or working-class status, even for a targeted person. WorkersRights.News reports the court found plaintiffs will likely prove such a stop policy. That policy would violate Fourth Amendment limits on unreasonable seizures and Fifth Amendment equal protection.
Where does it apply and who is covered?
The order applies only in the Central District of California. The ACLU of Southern California lists Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties. Stops outside those counties follow different rules.
Bloomberg Law describes two affected groups: people stopped in part for Latino appearance, and people stopped for working-class plus Latino status Bloomberg Law report. The court granted or partly certified classes covering those groups. The ACLU of Southern California notes the ban still exempts stops at ports of entry, checkpoints, and other functional equivalents of the border.
Is there a claim to file now?
Reporting from WorkersRights.News states the order is not a final decision on whether the government follows an unlawful policy reporting from WorkersRights.News. As a preliminary injunction, it holds only while the case continues before any final verdict.
There is no approved settlement or payment process tied to this order. This is a conduct order, not a claim form. If agents stop you in a covered county, preserve details that show what happened.
- date, time, and exact location of the stop
- agent names, badge numbers, and vehicle markings
- names and contact details for witnesses
- any paperwork, photos, or video you lawfully kept
What could pause or change the order?
The U.S. Supreme Court stayed the earlier July 11, 2025 order in the same case. The Sept. 8, 2025 stay applied pending Ninth Circuit appeal Supreme Court order No.
25A169. That history means the new injunction remains subject to appeal and stay. Reports state the Justice Department has appealed. An appeal can narrow, pause, or reverse limits without ending the underlying case. Save any stop paperwork and check for updates before assuming the rules changed.