WASHINGTON – A federal judge has blocked immigration agents from carrying out warrantless civil arrests in Washington, D.C., without first demonstrating probable cause that a suspect poses a flight risk. The ruling, issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, found that agents had repeatedly ignored federal law in executing arrests, marking a significant setback for President Trump’s efforts to expand mass deportations.
The lawsuit was filed by immigrant advocacy group CASA, along with Temporary Protected Status holders and asylum seekers, who documented roughly 40 instances of warrantless arrests. Howell, an Obama appointee, wrote that the agents’ actions “directly violate” the law and criticized the administration for attempting to justify the arrests by claiming officials were either ignorant or incompetent. The ruling highlights the tension between a Supreme Court decision allowing stops based on reasonable suspicion and the requirement of probable cause for arrests. Between August 7 and September 9, 943 immigration arrests took place in D.C., according to the court record. Plaintiffs hailed the decision as affirming that all residents, regardless of immigration status, have legal rights, while White House and DHS officials said they plan to challenge the ruling and maintain enforcement operations within constitutional bounds.