Lawmakers Demand Answers on Racial Profiling in Immigration Enforcement

Strategic Insights -

Lawmakers from both parties, including Representative Salud Carbajal, are calling for answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the use of racial profiling in immigration enforcement. The move comes after a federal court order was temporarily lifted by the Supreme Court, allowing immigration enforcement officers to resume making indiscriminate stops based on racial factors. The lawmakers argue that such a strategy is at odds with the US Constitution's commitment to equality and freedom from unreasonable searches.

Key Takeaways:

  • 64 lawmakers, including Representative Salud Carbajal, have signed a letter demanding answers from DHS on racial profiling in immigration enforcement.
  • The letter points to recent statements and actions by DHS officials that seem to indicate the Department is unlawfully using race as a basis for conducting immigration enforcement operations.
  • ICE data shows that between January 20 and July 28, 2025, ICE made more than 16,000 street arrests of immigrants with no criminal convictions, charges, or removal orders, with Latinos accounting for 90% of the arrests.
  • The US District Court for the Central District of California found that the Trump Administration has engaged in a pattern of stops and arrests based on four impermissible factors, including a person's "apparent race or identity."
  • The Supreme Court temporarily lifted a federal court order that stopped ICE from targeting people based on race, language, and work.
  • Racial profiling has resulted in real harm, including the death of a farmworker and the detention of U.S. citizens without due process.
  • The Department of Homeland Security has gutted the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, which would normally investigate complaints regarding the violations of civil rights.

Statistics:

  • Between January 20 and July 28, 2025, ICE made more than 16,000 street arrests of immigrants with no criminal convictions, charges, or removal orders (Source: ICE Data).
  • Over half of these arrests were made between June and July alone (Source: ICE Data).
  • Latinos accounted for 90% of the arrests (Source: ICE Data).
  • The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California found that the Trump Administration has engaged in a pattern of stops and arrests based on four impermissible factors, including a person's "apparent race or identity" (Source: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California).

Sources:

  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - " Letter to Secretary Noem"
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California - "Order in In re: Trump Administration Immigration Enforcement Actions"
  • ICE Data - "Street Arrests by Citizenship Status, January 20 - July 28, 2025"