A man being apprehended by an ICE agent (Screengrab by NDLON)
A federal judge has ordered immigration agents operating in Southern California to make and document an individualized determination that a person is likely to flee before making a warrantless civil immigration arrest when time does not permit them to obtain a warrant.
By News Desk
The order came in Vasquez Perdomo v. Mullin, a case challenging federal immigration-enforcement practices in the Central District of California. The court also directed federal agencies not to treat suspected undocumented status alone as sufficient evidence that a person is likely to flee.
The order provides preliminary relief while the case proceeds. It does not constitute a final ruling on all claims, establish that every immigration arrest was unlawful, or prevent the federal government from enforcing immigration law in compliance with the court’s requirements.
The lawsuit alleges that federal agents conducted immigration arrests without warrants and failed to properly assess whether individuals posed a flight risk before obtaining a warrant. The court certified a class that includes people arrested in the Central District of California since June 6, 2025, as well as people who may face future warrantless civil immigration arrests without an individualized flight-risk determination.
Monterey Park, which joined the lawsuit, welcomed the order.
“This order confirms a simple truth: The government must follow the law, act on the facts of each person’s situation, and respect the constitutional rights of everyone in our community,” Mayor Henry Lo said. “Our residents should be able to go to work, take their children to school, and ask for help when they need it without fear.”
The Monterey Park City Council voted unanimously on July 2, 2025, to authorize the city attorney to seek the city’s intervention in the lawsuit. The case was filed that day in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and was initially titled Perdomo v. Noem. On July 8, Monterey Park joined Los Angeles County and the cities of Culver City, Montebello, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood in filing a motion to intervene.
The city said it joined the case to support efforts to halt unlawful practices and hold federal agencies accountable for potential constitutional and human-rights violations. Monterey Park also told the court that increased federal immigration activity had created fear and distrust in the community, required the city to spend public resources educating and protecting residents, and strained relationships among local officials, police, and residents.
Under Senate Bill 54, the California Values Act; City Council Resolution 2024-R96; and Monterey Park Police Department Policy 413, city police officers do not enforce federal immigration laws. Officers do not ask people about their immigration status, hold federal detainees in the city jail, or participate in federal immigration-enforcement operations.
The city has also expressed support for Senate Bill 627, known as the “No Secret Police Act,” and Senate Bill 805, known as the “No Vigilantes Act.”
Monterey Park said crime victims, witnesses, and others seeking police assistance will not be questioned about their immigration status. Residents with immigration-related questions are encouraged to contact qualified legal-services providers and community organizations, including Chinatown Service Center and Asian Americans for Justice Southern California.
Through a partnership with Chinatown Service Center, the city operates a Resource and Referral Center that offers case management, legal-aid referrals, health-care referrals, family support, and information about workers’ rights. Residents may call 626-293-8733 or visit www.cscla.org.
Vasquez Perdomo v. Mullin, formerly Vasquez Perdomo v. Noem, remains pending in federal court. The lawsuit challenges stops, arrests, and detention practices that the plaintiffs allege are unlawful.
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