Profiling

Authorities Warn Emojis May Signal Gang Ties, Raising Concerns of Misguided Profiling and Deportations

by

U.S. law enforcement agencies are sounding alarms about the potential use of specific emojis as indicators of gang affiliation, particularly with Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan organization. Internal documents reviewed by various sources suggest that agencies, including the FBI and Customs and Border Protection, have warned that certain emojis shared on social media could symbolize a connection to the gang, which has become a focal point in U.S. immigration discussions. Briefings and materials circulated among agencies from 2024 to 2025 highlight emojis such as trains, swords, ninjas, aliens, and strawberries as commonly associated with … Read more

Fear and Resilience: LA’s Immigrant Community Reels as Supreme Court Eases Racial Profiling Rules

by

Los Angeles, California — Fear has become a constant companion for Brian Gavidia since federal immigration agents confronted him three months ago, leaving him shaken and questioning his security as a U.S. citizen. Gavidia, 29, was at a tow yard he leases for his small car dealership when he became the target of a seemingly routine immigration raid, which turned confrontational and traumatic. Gavidia, a plaintiff in a significant lawsuit initiated by the ACLU and various immigrant advocacy organizations, alleges that the actions of the Trump administration reflect blatant racial profiling as part of its … Read more

Federal Judge Halts Controversial Immigration Raids in Southern California Amid Allegations of Racial Profiling

by

LOS ANGELES – A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to cease broad immigration enforcement actions across seven California counties, including Los Angeles, following a lawsuit that alleges discriminatory practices against Hispanic communities. The lawsuit, filed by immigrant advocacy organizations last week, accuses the administration of specifically targeting individuals based on their race amid ongoing immigration enforcement. Among the plaintiffs are three detained immigrants and two U.S. citizens, one of whom was reportedly held despite providing identification to authorities. During a hearing at the U.S. District Court, advocates argued that the government’s tactics violated … Read more

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Faces Pressure to Resolve $315 Million Racial Profiling Case Backlog by 2026, Amid Critiques of Outsourced Investigation Efforts

by

PHOENIX — The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, grappling with a lingering scandal over racial profiling dating back to 2007, continues to face oversight by a court-appointed monitor, a predicament costing taxpayers nearly $315 million to date. This oversight follows a significant lawsuit during former Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s tenure, which accused the agency of systematically targeting Latinos. Currently, the sheriff’s office is addressing a substantial backlog of over 1,000 internal investigations involving its own employees, some of which have been unresolved for years. Judge G. Murray Snow, who presides over the case, has recently expressed his … Read more