A California court issued a temporary restraining order on United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday as part of a lawsuit alleging that it is racially profiling people it arrests for deportation. Now, one official in President Donald Trump's administration may have jeopardized that case.
Speaking on Fox News Monday, ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan said, "I think we all know that criminals tend to hang out with criminals. And so as we start to build a case, we're gonna be going after everyone that's around them, because these criminals tend to hang out with like-minded people who also happen to be criminals."
Lawyer and commentator David Lurie remarked on Bluesky, "The groups of 'criminals' she is referring to are farmworkers harvesting tomatoes.
However, other legal experts pointed out that her comments may have caused problems for the Justice Department in its appeal of the judge's decision.
Over the weekend, the Trump administration appealed the restraining order issued by a federal judge who stopped broad immigration sweeps in which agents ignored "reasonable suspicion" and indiscriminately arrested people across southern California.
"Your honor, the next exhibit for the [American Civil Liberties Union] is ICE Deputy Director's statements on Monday following your ruling on Friday," remarked New York University School of Law Professor Ryan Goodman on Bluesky, sharing the video from independent journalist Aaron Rupar.
Former actress, writer, and comedian Nicole Sandler suggested Sheahan "start with who hangs out with [Donald] Trump."
Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) commented by citing data from the conservative/libertarian Cato Institute, "65 Percent of People Taken by ICE Had No Convictions, 93 Percent No Violent Convictions."
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