‘They Run, We Chase’: LA Immigration Raids Test Probable Cause Limits

(LOS ANGELES) Immigration agents have intensified workplace and street raids across Los Angeles, testing the legal limits of probable cause. Courts have restricted some tactics, but enforcement continues — affecting low-wage workers and their families today.

Agents are targeting car washes, bus stops, and retail parking lots. They move quickly, and when people run, agents often shout, “They run, we chase,” then make arrests on the spot. Los Angeles officials say they’re reviewing tactics, while federal leaders defend ongoing operations.

What’s happening on the ground

• Raids hit at least 58 car washes this year, some targeted more than once. Agents say patterns show undocumented workers gather there.
• Since June 6, 2025, ICE and Border Patrol report 4,163 arrests in the Los Angeles area.
• After recent court limits on stops without probable cause, monthly arrests fell from 2,792 in June to about 1,371 in July, though high-profile raids continue.

Voices from officials

• Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli says enforcement remains active and non-negotiable despite new rulings.
• Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass says her office is investigating and notes that tactics appear unchanged.
• DHS Secretary Kristi Noem supports robust enforcement while legal challenges proceed.

“They run, we chase” has become a focal phrase in court because running can be used to justify immediate pursuit and arrests.

What “probable cause” means here

Probable cause is a legal standard requiring a reasonable belief that a person is removable (not lawfully present) and might escape before a warrant can be obtained. Officers evaluate the whole picture, including:

• Can they confirm identity?
• Has the person run from officers before?
• Does the person lack community ties (family, a home, steady work)?
• Did the person run at the scene?

Running itself can factor into probable cause. But judges warn that race, language, or job type cannot be the main reasons to stop someone.

Where agents can act

• Public spaces (sidewalks, parking lots, storefronts): no warrant needed if officers already have probable cause.
• Private areas (employee-only rooms, homes, back offices): agents usually need consent or a judicial warrant. Administrative ICE warrants alone may not be enough to enter private spaces.

Courts push back

• The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently blocked some ICE stops that lacked probable cause.
• Judges are re-examining older precedent (for example, Blackie’s House of Beef from the 1980s) that allowed broader workplace checks with administrative warrants.
• Immigration law can carry criminal penalties in some situations today, so courts expect closer Fourth Amendment compliance.
• The dispute may reach the Supreme Court, which could set a national rule for stops and arrests during immigration operations.

By the numbers

Impact on immigrant communities

• Workers at car washes and day-labor sites face sudden arrests, making it hard to get to work, take kids to school, or seek medical care.
• Repeated raids create fear that can silence witnesses and victims of crime.
• Local service providers report missed appointments and families avoiding city offices.
• Some employers experience labor shortages when workers stay home after raids.

A day during a raid — step by step

1. Selection: Agents choose locations with a history of undocumented hiring (car washes, bus stops).
2. Approach: Teams arrive in unmarked vehicles, sometimes in plain clothes.
3. Engagement: If people run, agents pursue through alleys or lots.
4. Arrest: Officers arrest when they have probable cause or a valid warrant.
5. Processing: Detainees go to a holding site, then detention, and face removal proceedings.

Your rights in simple terms

• In public, officers can question you, but you do not have to answer about immigration status. You can say, “I choose to remain silent.”
• Ask, “Am I free to leave?” If the officer says yes, you may walk away calmly. Running may be used as part of probable cause.
• At home or in nonpublic work areas, ask to see a warrant. An ICE administrative warrant (Form I-200 or I-205) is not the same as a judicial warrant signed by a judge. Without consent or a judge-signed warrant, you can decline entry to private spaces.
• Ask for a lawyer. Do not sign documents you don’t understand.

Important: Running can be used against you in court. If told you are free to leave, walking away calmly is safer than running.

Official resources

For summaries of rights and complaint processes, consult U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) resources on enforcement and removal. The ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations pages include:

• Detention and bond information
• Detention location lookup
• Case updates and contacts

Also see DHS and CBP official data and contact pages for additional information.

Legal tension: speed versus safeguards

Officers say they must act quickly when suspects flee or may dispose of evidence. Courts say speed cannot replace the need for probable cause based on facts, not hunches. Judges now scrutinize each stop for:

• Reasonable identity verification
• Whether behavior (like running) was combined with other factual indicators
• Any signs of profiling

This case-by-case review helps explain why arrests dipped after the 9th Circuit order.

What employers should know

• Review I-9 rules and keep files updated.
• Train managers on how to respond to agents at the door.
• If presented an administrative ICE warrant, understand its limits for private areas. Request a judicial warrant for nonpublic spaces.
• Provide a point of contact for law enforcement, remain calm, document interactions, and consult counsel.

What workers can prepare

• Carry copies of any valid IDs or court paperwork.
• Create a family plan: emergency contacts, childcare instructions, and a folder with important documents.
• Stay calm during encounters. Do not present fake documents or give false statements.
• If detained, ask for your A-number (if you have one) and request to call a lawyer or family.

Policy outlook

• The 9th Circuit ruling is likely headed for Supreme Court review. A national decision could tighten or relax the probable cause threshold for immigration stops in public areas.
• DHS may issue new guidance on when officers can rely on flight, identity gaps, and community ties.
• City leaders may expand “sensitive locations” policies and fund legal assistance.

Human stakes in Los Angeles

At a South Los Angeles car wash raided twice this summer, a father of two hid in a supply closet instead of running. “I thought running would make it worse,” he said after release, pending a hearing. His choice highlights the legal dilemma: when people run, enforcement escalates; when they stay, officers may still claim probable cause based on identity gaps. Either way, families bear the stress.

Practical next steps

• Save the ICE online detainee locator and local legal aid contacts.
• Learn the difference between administrative warrants and judicial warrants.
• Teach children what to do if a parent doesn’t come home.
• Stay calm during encounters; don’t run unless you’ve been told you’re free to leave and choose to walk away.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, tighter court oversight in Los Angeles has shifted arrest numbers and forced agencies to adjust field guidance, though the “They run, we chase” mindset continues to shape split-second decisions.

For official guidance on enforcement and your rights, visit the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations pages at ice.gov, which include contact details and case tools for the United States 🇺🇸.