They contended that residents have become afraid to seek medical care, attend school functions, or cooperate with local law enforcement, fearing they could be detained or questioned by federal agents. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to pause the operations while the court considers whether they can lawfully continue in their current form.
Judge Menendez acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but cautioned that the legal terrain surrounding federal immigration enforcement is both complex and sparsely mapped. She noted that there is limited precedent addressing when, or under what circumstances, a federal court may restrict federal agents from performing duties authorized by Congress and the Constitution. In her remarks from the bench, she stressed that immigration enforcement has traditionally been viewed as a core federal function, and courts have historically been reluctant to intervene absent clear evidence of unlawful conduct. At the same time, she recognized that the plaintiffs had raised “grave and important matters,” particularly regarding individual rights and the potential for abuse of authority.
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