Federal Judge Rules Border Patrol Violated Court Order with Continued Sweeps in California

Judge finds agents detained people without reasonable suspicion, relying on broad assumptions about day laborers

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:05pm

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A realistic oil painting depicting a lone Border Patrol SUV parked in the shadows of a Home Depot parking lot, with warm sunlight casting diagonal shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of tension and unease.The federal judge's ruling casts a long shadow over Border Patrol's controversial tactics in California's Central Valley.Today in Sacramento

A federal judge has ruled that Border Patrol agents continued making illegal stops and arrests in California despite a previous order to stop. Judge Jennifer Thurston found agents detained people without reasonable suspicion, relying on broad assumptions about day laborers instead of specific evidence of immigration violations.

Why it matters

This ruling highlights ongoing tensions between the federal government and California over immigration enforcement, with the judge accusing Border Patrol of violating civil rights by stopping people based solely on their appearance. It also raises questions about how Border Patrol is documenting its operations and whether agents are following proper protocols.

The details

In a decision unsealed Thursday, Judge Thurston granted a United Farm Workers motion to enforce a preliminary injunction she issued last year. That order barred Border Patrol from detaining people in California's Central Valley without documenting specific facts and reasoning. Thurston found agents violated the order during a July raid on a Home Depot parking lot in Sacramento, where they detained a group of day laborers without legal justification.

  • In July 2026, Border Patrol agents conducted a raid on a Home Depot parking lot in Sacramento.
  • In 2021, Judge Thurston issued a preliminary injunction barring Border Patrol from detaining people without reasonable suspicion.

The players

Judge Jennifer Thurston

A federal judge in the Eastern District of California who ruled that Border Patrol agents continued making illegal stops and arrests despite a previous order to stop.

United Farm Workers

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

Gregory Bovino

A former Border Patrol sector chief who defended the agency's actions, stating that 'Sacramento is not a sanctuary city' and 'there is no sanctuary anywhere.'

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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, Federal 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

Judge Thurston 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 directives.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing legal battles over immigration enforcement tactics, with the judge accusing Border Patrol of violating civil rights by relying on broad assumptions and racial profiling rather than specific evidence. It underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in how federal agents document and justify their actions.