Federal judge restricts ICE immigration raids at Alabama construction sites

A federal judge in Alabama has issued a preliminary injunction to limit immigration enforcement tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at construction sites. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock ruled against several Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policies following a class-action lawsuit brought by Leonardo Garcia Venegas, a U.S. citizen who was repeatedly detained despite presenting valid identification.

The ruling prohibits ICE agents from entering private construction sites without a judicial warrant, detaining workers without reasonable suspicion of being undocumented, and continuing to hold individuals who present valid proof of legal status, such as a REAL ID. The court noted that warrantless arrests based on ethnicity undermine Fourth Amendment protections.

In separate immigration developments, a federal court in Massachusetts has issued a nationwide preliminary injunction delaying a DHS rule change that would have replaced the 'Duration of Status' for F-1, J-1, and I visa holders with fixed admission periods. Additionally, the Trump administration has extended certain H-1B worker restrictions through September 2027, while the State Department is expanding social media vetting for various nonimmigrant visa categories.