"Federal law enforcement has brutalized demonstrators, causing disorder in a circular ploy to justify deploying military domestically against now and future protesters. But people have the right to keep protesting the violent separation of families and ICE’s terrorizing of our people," said Peter Eliasberg, chief counsel of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California.
On June 6, 2025, the Trump administration began a series of indiscriminate immigration raids across Southern California. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers—in masks, wearing paramilitary gear and brandishing rifles—abducted community members from churches, carwashes, and ordinary places of business.
As news of these attacks spread, Southern California residents took to the streets to document what was happening, to remind the targeted community members of their legal rights, and to peacefully protest the federal government’s invasion of their neighborhoods and violent separation of their families.
In retaliation, DHS officers used brutal force at demonstrations, punishing and suppressing the exercise of First Amendment-protected rights. DHS deployed chemical agents such as tear gas, rubber bullets, impact munitions, pepper balls, pepper spray, exploding grenades, batons, fists, and other weapons against protesters, legal observers, and reporters -- all to create a violent spectacle the Trump administration is using as a pretext to turn the military against Californians.
In response, the Los Angeles Press Club, NewsGuild - Communications Workers of America (CWA), three journalists, two individual protesters, and a legal observer filed suit against DHS.
Case Developments
Plaintiffs file complaint and application for TRO. Read the complaint and memo for TRO.
