Thursday, August 7, 2025

Settlement Bars ICE Officers From Impersonating Local Police in Southern California

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers will no longer be permitted to impersonate local police or use deceptive tactics during home arrests in Southern California, following a settlement approved by a federal judge on Monday.

The agreement, issued by U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II in the class-action lawsuit Kidd v. Noem, bans ICE agents from misrepresenting their identity or purpose when conducting home enforcement in seven counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo.

This legal resolution comes amid years of reports from immigrant-rights groups about ICE executing “knock and arrest” tactics, particularly in cities like Pasadena, Pomona, and Highland Park. Documented cases reveal ICE agents have posed as local police investigating issues such as stolen vehicles or probation checks, then arrested individuals once they exited their homes.

Filed in 2020 on behalf of Osny Sorto-Vazquez Kidd, the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), the lawsuit targeted ICE’s widespread use of deceptive home raids. The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California represented the plaintiffs.

“This settlement makes clear immigration officers are not above the Constitution and will be held accountable for their deceptive practices,” said Diana Sanchez, ACLU of Southern California staff attorney. Sanchez said the group will continue to monitor enforcement.

Under the agreement, ICE agents are prohibited from falsely claiming to be police, parole, or probation officers or any other state or local officials. They may not use ruses, such as claiming they are investigating crimes or responding to emergencies, to prompt people to open doors.

Additionally, officers in the Los Angeles Field Office must display “ICE” prominently on their uniforms whenever “POLICE” appears, in order to avoid public confusion. New training, compliance reminders, and mandatory record-keeping are all required under the settlement, with class counsel monitoring compliance for three years.

“For far too long, ICE disrespected the privacy of community members by taking shortcuts around the Constitution’s requirement that law enforcement have a warrant signed by a judge to enter a home,” said Annie Lai of UC Irvine School of Law.

“Thanks to this settlement, ICE must now be transparent about who they are if they don’t have a warrant.”

Individuals who believe they have been affected are urged to submit complaints through the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.

Advocates welcomed the decision as overdue protection for immigrant families but emphasized that more work remains to ensure community rights and safety.