Justice Department Asks Supreme Court to Lift Major Deportation Block

(MASSACHUSETTS) The Justice Department is asking the Supreme Court to step in again, this time to lift a Los Angeles ruling that limits when immigration agents can stop people. The move follows a June order that let the government restart some deportations paused by a Massachusetts case.

Filed on August 7, 2025, the emergency request says the Los Angeles order blocks core field work by agents in central California. The government seeks a quick answer by August 12, 2025, saying the rule harms current operations run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

What changed this summer

• In June 2025, the Supreme Court paused a Massachusetts district court order that had stopped deportations to “third countries” without checks for risk of torture. The unsigned order let removals proceed while the case continues. Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson.
• On August 7, 2025, the Justice Department asked the Court to block a separate Los Angeles ruling. That ruling bars stops without reasonable suspicion and forbids agents from relying on race, ethnicity, language, or presence in known immigrant gathering places.
• Federal officials describe the ongoing California effort as the “largest Mass Deportation Operation” in recent U.S. history, launched in June 2025. Immigrant advocates say many stops lack the required legal basis and amount to racial profiling.

Why this matters now

The combined effect of these court moves shapes who can be detained, where they can be sent, and how fast deportations happen.

• After the June order, ICE can again place some people on flights to countries other than their homeland, if internal safeguards are met.
• If the August request succeeds, agents could regain broader power to stop and question people in public places, potentially expanding the scope of field operations.

Key takeaway: court decisions this summer directly affect the scope of stops, detention, and third-country removals.

Key legal backdrop

• April 2025 — Trump v. J.G.G.
  • The Supreme Court allowed detention and removal of Venezuelans linked to the Tren de Aragua criminal group, but required hearings before any summary deportations.
• July 2025 — Riley v. Bondi
  • The Court set a strict timeline: noncitizens must seek federal court review within 30 days of a final deportation order.
  • Missing that window can end court review for asylum and Convention Against Torture (CAT) claims.

How people on the ground feel

• Community groups report fear in mixed-status neighborhoods. Parents weigh school drop-offs against the risk of street stops.
• Workers avoid day-labor sites. Local legal hotlines report spikes in calls after news alerts about raids or flights to third countries.
• Some local officials support enforcement, citing public safety and arguing the Los Angeles rules create zones where agents cannot act.
• The Justice Department warns limits on stops undercut ongoing cases.

Practical steps if you or a family member is at risk

• Track deadlines. Under Riley v. Bondi, the 30-day clock for a federal court petition starts with the final order. Do not wait.
• If you fear torture in any country, ask counsel about filing Form I-589 for asylum, withholding of removal, or Convention Against Torture protection. The USCIS form link is here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-589.
• If removal is scheduled soon, ask a lawyer whether a stay is possible. Some people request a temporary stay from ICE using Form I-246 (Stay of Removal): https://www.ice.gov/doclib/forms/pdf/i246.pdf. Approval is not guaranteed and timing is key.
• Keep copies of all notices, receipts, and past filings. Bring them to any attorney or clinic visit.
• During stops:
  • Avoid risky statements.
  • Ask for a lawyer.
  • You may provide your name and carry civil ID, but you do not have to answer questions about status without counsel.

What the Supreme Court could do next

The Court may:

1. Grant the government’s August request — likely restoring wider stop authority during the appeal.
2. Deny the request — keeping the Los Angeles limits in place for now.
3. Narrow the request — imposing a tailored remedy or partial relief.

Final rulings may take months and could set nationwide rules for street stops and third-country removals.

Who is most affected

• People with recent final orders who did not file court petitions within 30 days
• Those routed to “third countries” under Department of Homeland Security guidance
• Long-time residents who live or work in areas where agents focus field checks
• Families with mixed status, especially where a parent has an old order

Rights and risks during field stops

• The Los Angeles order bars stops based on race, ethnicity, language, or presence in immigrant hubs.
• If the Supreme Court blocks that order, agents may again consider some of these factors within broader patterns.
• Advocates warn such a change would widen the reach of street operations.
• Government lawyers say agents still need reasonable suspicion tied to immigration law, even with more tools.

Bigger policy story

• These disputes began under President Trump and continued into 2025 under President Biden.
• Courts have often added safeguards, then pulled some back. That back-and-forth leaves families unsure who can be removed, when, and to where.
• Analysis by VisaVerge.com highlights that uncertainty increases when rules change mid-operation, as seen this summer.

Case example

A father from Venezuela with a 2023 final order did not seek court review. In June 2025, agents detained him at a job site. He feared torture by gangs if returned home.

• Under current guidance, ICE considered removal to a third country, with internal checks for risk.
• His lawyer quickly filed Form I-589 to raise CAT claims and asked ICE for a temporary stay using Form I-246.
• The filings did not stop detention, but they put requests into the record before any flight was scheduled.

What to watch this week

• August 12, 2025 deadline: the date the Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to respond to its Los Angeles filing.
• Any new Court orders that change stop rules or third-country flights.
• Local notices about expanded field teams in California and the Northeast.

For official statements and filings, see the Department of Justice website: https://www.justice.gov/. Supreme Court orders and opinions will appear on the Court’s docket. ICE policy updates are posted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement online.