Immigrant advocates in Kern County say a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision is sowing fear in communities of color, as the ruling allows immigration agents in Los Angeles to resume “roving raids” that critics describe as racial profiling.
On September 8, the Court voted 6-3 to lift a lower court’s ban on enforcement tactics that had barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from targeting people based on ethnicity, language, type of work, or their presence at locations like car washes and day labor sites. The ruling temporarily halts a federal judge’s finding that the practices were unconstitutional, giving ICE the green light to resume sweeps that many say unfairly target immigrant and working-class communities.
Oliver Ma, a volunteer with the Rapid Response Network of Kern, called the decision “horrifying” and said it sets a dangerous precedent.
“What the Supreme Court is basically saying is people can be targeted, people can be arrested, people can be assaulted based on their skin color or based on the language they speak and based on what kind of jobs they have,” Ma said. “It really hurts our immigrant communities.”
Ma also pointed to what he sees as contradictions in the Court’s recent decisions.
“What they’re saying is you cannot consider skin color when it comes to college admissions. But you can consider skin color when it comes to arresting and assaulting people,” he said. “Or, someone who is working a low-wage job can be assaulted and detained and arrested, but not someone who is working a high-wage job.”
While the decision directly affects Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties, its implications for Kern County remain uncertain. The Central Valley is covered by a separate lawsuit that the Supreme Court’s order does not address.
Still, Ma warned that immigrant families in Kern County should remain cautious. “Just because you don’t have a criminal conviction doesn’t mean you don’t have any risks, because this decision demonstrates that just having brown skin is a risk. Just working a low-wage job is a risk. Just speaking Spanish is a risk.”
The Rapid Response Network of Kern, Ma added, is prepared to continue supporting local residents. He explained that volunteers are available to assist people during interactions with ICE or Border Patrol, attorneys are ready to provide legal support if someone is arrested, and the network can deliver food and groceries to families who feel unsafe leaving their homes.
“It’s times like these that we really have to lean on the community,” Ma said. “And here in Kern County, the community is strong.”
