We are proud to share an important victory in our ongoing fight to uphold the rule of law and defend the constitutional rights of all Angelenos. A federal court has granted our motion for a preliminary injunction against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE, ruling that the government likely violated the Fifth Amendment by denying detained immigrants lawful access to their attorneys.
This ruling directly challenges the inhumane conditions at B-18—a holding site in the basement of the federal building in downtown Los Angeles—where individuals have been locked away for days in filthy conditions, cut off from phone calls, in-person legal visits, and basic necessities like medication. Some have even been pressured to sign legal documents before speaking with a lawyer.
Attorneys for the Department of Homeland Security claimed that legal meetings inside B‑18 could take place with the doors open and ICE agents present, even suggesting that attorneys could simply whisper to maintain confidentiality. The court firmly rejected this position, finding multiple ongoing violations that warrant continued oversight and extending and strengthening protections first secured under a temporary restraining order issued in July 2025.
This decision means the government must immediately restore meaningful, confidential access to counsel for all individuals detained at B-18, and it is a major step toward ensuring every Angeleno facing the power of the federal government is not left to stand alone.
Our fight is far from over. The court also recently approved expedited discovery on our claims that the government’s roving immigration patrols have violated the Fourth Amendment’s protections against unlawful stops and racial profiling—opening the door for us to obtain crucial evidence and sworn testimony about immigration agents’ discriminatory practices.
Today’s ruling affirms a fundamental principle: the Constitution does not stop at the doors of a detention center. We celebrate this important step forward, and we remain unwavering in our commitment to defend the rights and dignity of every person in our community.
