LOS ANGELES — Recent immigration raids throughout Southern California are sparking significant concerns about potential violations of constitutional rights. Experts in immigration law suggest that in the pursuit of a high number of arrests, authorities may be circumventing legal protocols.
On Sunday afternoon, agents sporting U.S. Border Patrol vests detained two employees at a car wash in Torrance, illustrating a trend that has emerged across various parking lots and businesses in the region. These operations raise questions regarding the legality of federal intervention in private spaces, particularly in the absence of a judicial warrant.
Jean Reisz, co-director of the immigration clinic at the University of Southern California, noted that the legality of such actions hinges on the expectation of privacy in these environments. “If it’s evident that non-employees are not allowed to enter that space, that strengthens the argument for a Fourth Amendment violation when officials enter without permission,” she explained.
Emmanuel Karim Nicola-Cruz, the son of the car wash owner, confronted the men in Border Patrol vests during the arrest. He provided Eyewitness News with evidence indicating that the areas accessed by the agents were private, underscoring his concerns about their approach. A bystander captured footage of the incident, urging one of the detained workers not to answer questions and pressing the agents to identify themselves.
Reisz stated that although law enforcement is not necessarily required to disclose their identity before asking questions, it is a pertinent factor in determining whether there has been a breach of rights. She elaborated, “If someone describes a situation where they felt threatened by individuals dressed like bank robbers, this could impact the nature of the conversation that followed.”
Regarding the types of inquiries police can make, Reisz mentioned that while individuals may need to identify themselves, they are not obligated to answer beyond that initial response. She advised those approached by law enforcement to assert whether they are free to leave and not to sign anything, insisting that if they aren’t free to go, they should request legal representation.
Many of these operations involve what Reisz referred to as warrantless arrests. To legally detain someone without a warrant, officers must possess reasonable suspicion, while making an arrest necessitates probable cause. Reisz asserted that a lack of warrants and reasonable suspicion is prevalent in these cases, stating, “What we’re observing is that individuals are being targeted in workplaces, raising further questions about potential racial profiling.”
Despite repeated inquiries about the rationale behind conducting raids at locations like auto shops or home improvement stores, federal authorities have not provided explanations. The concerning nature of these incidents has brought heightened scrutiny to enforcement practices in the region.
As the situation continues to unfold, community members and legal experts are calling for clarity and accountability from federal authorities regarding their tactics and the protections afforded to those in Southern California.
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