The US Supreme Court has ruled sweeping immigration raids in Los Angeles can continue for now, lifting a federal judge's order that had barred agents from making stops without 'reasonable suspicion'.
The Monday ruling is a win for President Donald Trump, who has vowed to conduct record-level deportations of migrants in the country illegally.
The 6-3 decision of the conservative-majority court allows agents to stops suspects based solely on their race, language or job, while a legal challenge to the recent immigration sweeps in LA works its way through the courts.
The liberal justices dissented, saying the decision puts constitutional freedoms at risk.
Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in Monday's decision that the lower court's restraining order went too far in restricting how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents could carry out stops or questioning of suspected unlawful migrants.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor penned a dissenting opinion, arguing that the ruling subjects individuals to undue discriminatory treatment based on looks alone.
Critics, including local officials, have condemned the ruling as dangerous and contrary to American values, asserting that it undermines personal liberties.
Immigration advocacy groups had previously challenged the raids, arguing that they violated the Fourth Amendment by allowing unlawful searches and seizures based on appearance.
In response to these developments, the Supreme Court's decision signals a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement practices in America, as the Trump administration seeks to intensify its efforts across various cities.
