Friend –

We're excited to share a major civil rights victory. This week, a federal district court in California issued a preliminary injunction barring U.S. Border Patrol from using stop-and-arrest practices that violate federal law and the U.S. Constitution.

The ruling in United Farmworkers v. Noem applies to future Border Patrol operations in the Eastern District of California, which stretches inland from Bakersfield to the Oregon border.

How we got here: In January, Border Patrol agents traveled to Kern County where they indiscriminately rounded up day laborers and farm workers, transported them 300 miles south to the El Centro Border Patrol Station, denied them due process, and coerced them into voluntary departure. Now, at least 40 longtime residents remain stranded in Mexico, separated from their families and community.

We jumped into action, and in February the ACLUs of California and Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP sued the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and Border Patrol.

The preliminary injunction prohibits Border Patrol from stopping and arresting people without legal justification. As U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston told the government's attorneys in court, agents "just can't walk up to people with brown skin and say, 'Give me your papers.'" Please note: This link will take you to a third-party website, calmatters.org.

This is a significant win, but there's more work ahead. Thank you for your continued support in our fight to defend the civil rights of all Californians.

If you plan to head out to a protest, stay safe and know your rights.

Abdi Soltani
Pronouns: He, him, his
Executive Director, ACLU of Northern California