On September 8th, the U.S Supreme Court voted 6-3 to temporarily authorize federal immigration enforcement agents to consider race, language, and other profiling factors in deciding who to stop and potentially detain. The ruling is giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) broader powers to carry out the White House's deportation agenda, despite growing concerns over civil rights violations. 

Under the decision, ICE agents are permitted to use indicators, such as whether an individual speaks Spanish, speaks English with an accent, or works in certain industries, as grounds for suspicion. The court called these “relevant factors,” lowering the standards of “reasonable suspicion” traditionally required for government stops and searches. 

ICE has already expanded operations in Massachusetts and Illinois. At the same time, continuing activity in Los Angeles in Washington, D.C., Officials have set a goal of 3,000 detainees per day. With these broader terms for suspicion, there has been a significant increase nationwide. However, national data show that about 70% of people in Immigration detention have not received a criminal conviction, indicating a lack of justified detentions. Certain cities, such as Boston, have policies in place stating that local law enforcement cannot collaborate with immigration enforcement, as Boston is a sanctuary city. 

Accounts from several cities also describe ICE agents using unmarked vehicles, sometimes without license plates, and wearing civilian clothing or masks. Because of this, many detained individuals reportedly could not be located in federal systems for several days, and video recordings taken by bystanders have become a main way for families learning that their relatives have been taken into custody. 

For immigrants and their families, the ruling has translated into a heightened sense of fear. Some have responded by carrying passports with them at all times, limiting time outside their homes, or even leaving the country voluntarily. 

The Supreme Court's decision represents a significant shift in Immigration enforcement, permitting race and ethnicity to be treated as “reasonable suspicion,” representing a breakdown of our Fourth Amendment.