ICE Accused of Detentions Based on ‘Latino Appearance’ and Racist Slurs

A lawsuit filed in federal court in Los Angeles revealed new evidence against immigration agents. The case includes recordings, body camera videos, and testimonies from affected migrants.

This material is part of a legal proceeding that directly questions ICE’s actions. The operations investigated were carried out specifically in various areas of Southern California.

The legal action was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The organization argues that immigration agents used racist expressions against people of Latino appearance.

Detentions Based on Alleged Racial Profiling

According to the lawsuit, these detentions were also motivated by specific racial profiles. The case was filed in the Federal District Court of Central California on July 28.

This litigation is part of a legal process initiated last summer against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Various civil organizations seek to review current immigration detention practices.

These practices, according to the plaintiffs, frequently result in arrests based solely on the appearance or ethnic origin of the detained persons.

Five Plaintiffs and Four Civil Organizations

The lawsuit, identified as Vasquez Perdomo v. Mullin, was brought by five individual plaintiffs along with four civil organizations. Among them are the Los Angeles Worker Center Network and United Farm Workers.

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights and the Immigrant Defenders Law Center also participate in this joint legal action. The filing directly challenges DHS policies related to immigration raids.

Among the main allegations are widespread detentions on racial grounds and arrests made without proper judicial warrants.

Conditions Questioned at B-18 Detention Center

The lawsuit also questions detention conditions at the B-18 detention center, located in downtown Los Angeles. The plaintiffs characterized these conditions as inhumane during the legal proceeding.

According to the filed document, many detained persons did not have adequate access to legal representation during their detention. This situation further aggravates the accusations presented to the federal court.

According to the plaintiff groups, the material submitted to the court reinforces the hypothesis about detentions based on physical appearance, without specific verifiable suspicions.

Offensive Terms Under Judicial Review

Among the evidence presented are messages and audio recordings containing expressions considered offensive for their discriminatory nature. These terms have been used historically against the Latino migrant community.

According to the lawsuit, one of these terms is an abbreviation of an insult traditionally used against undocumented Mexican immigrants. The expression refers derogatorily to those who crossed the border by water.

Over time, this word acquired a clearly discriminatory connotation within the context of the immigration operations documented in the lawsuit.

Another Term Associated with a Police Object

Another term identified in the messages reviewed by the plaintiff’s attorneys is associated with the sound produced by a police object. According to the court file, this word is related to the strike of a flashlight during a detention.

This term has been considered for years as a racial slur within the Border Patrol’s own ranks. The agency has even flagged its use as inappropriate on various prior occasions.

The lawsuit also references text messages exchanged between agents during 2018 and 2019, where similar insults previously documented appear.

ACLU’s Position on the Evidence

For the ACLU, the evidence presented is fundamental to fully supporting the legal case. Mayra Joachín, an attorney for the organization, offered direct statements about the relevance of the compiled material.

“This evidence is critical,” Joachín stated in an interview with N+ Univisión. The attorney argued that immigration agents specifically target people who appear Latino or are workers.

According to the legal representative, agents detain people simply for being in certain geographic areas, without prior evidence of specific immigration violations.

Formal Request to Federal Judge

The organizations backing the lawsuit formally requested that the federal judge establish clear limits on these practices. They specifically ask that agents be prohibited from detaining people solely based on their Latino appearance.

This request seeks to create an important legal precedent for future immigration operations in the region. The outcome of this petition could directly influence the way ICE conducts its detentions.

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security offered its own version of events in response to the allegations presented.

DHS Official Response

Contacted by N+ Univisión, the Department of Homeland Security responded to the accusations presented in the lawsuit. The agency asserted that its agents prioritize protecting the American people during their operations.

The DHS rejected what it characterized as “false outrage