Federal Judge Rules Border Patrol Sweeps in California Violated Court Order

Agents detained people 'without reasonable suspicion' and failed to document stops, judge says

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:13pm

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A cinematic painting of a solitary Border Patrol vehicle parked outside a Home Depot, the scene bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually illustrating the tensions over federal immigration enforcement in California.A federal judge's ruling exposes tensions over Border Patrol's tactics in California, where agents have continued making questionable stops and arrests despite court orders.Today in Sacramento

A federal judge ruled that Border Patrol agents in California continued making illegal stops and arrests after she ordered them to stop, saying they acted 'without considering or complying with law Congress enacted.' The judge found the agents detained people 'without reasonable suspicion' and failed to properly document the stops and arrests, violating a previous court order.

Why it matters

This ruling highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and immigrant rights advocates in California, where the state has enacted 'sanctuary' policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The judge's decision raises questions about how Border Patrol is conducting operations and documenting its activities in the state.

The details

In a decision unsealed Thursday, Judge Jennifer Thurston of the Eastern District of California found that Border Patrol agents conducted sweeps in the state's Central Valley 'without any legal basis,' relying on broad assumptions about day laborers instead of specific evidence of immigration violations. The ruling grants a motion by the United Farm Workers to enforce a preliminary injunction Thurston issued last year, which barred agents from detaining people without documenting the specific facts and reasoning. Thurston found the agents' reports were often inaccurate or lacked key details, with some agents' names redacted.

  • In July, Border Patrol agents swarmed the parking lot of a Home Depot in Sacramento, detaining a group of day laborers.
  • Thurston's original order prohibiting warrantless arrests without assessing flight risk was issued last year.

The players

Judge Jennifer Thurston

A federal judge in the Eastern District of California who ruled that Border Patrol agents violated her previous order barring them from detaining people without reasonable suspicion and proper documentation.

United Farm Workers

A labor union that filed the motion to enforce the preliminary injunction against Border Patrol's actions in California.

Gregory Bovino

The former Border Patrol sector chief who stood in front of the California state Capitol and declared that 'Sacramento is not a sanctuary city' after the Home Depot raid.

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What they’re saying

“'You just can't walk up to people with Brown skin and say, 'Give me your papers.''”

— Judge Jennifer Thurston, U.S. District Judge

“'The ruling upholds what we've been saying all along: you can't just stop people for being brown and working class.'”

— Elizabeth Strater, Vice President, United Farm Workers

What’s next

The judge did not grant the United Farm Workers' request to compel Border Patrol agents to receive additional training, but she said she expects agents in the field to immediately comply with the court's order. The consequences could escalate if the federal government continues to ignore the judge's rulings, potentially leading to fines, penalties, or even criminal contempt charges.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing legal battles over federal immigration enforcement tactics in California, where the state has enacted 'sanctuary' policies limiting cooperation with Border Patrol. The judge's ruling underscores the importance of proper documentation and adherence to constitutional protections, even as the Trump administration seeks to expand the authority of immigration agents.