MHBA Statement on the Supreme Court Order in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo

The Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association is seriously troubled by the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo, issued on September 8, 2025, which lifted a district court order forbidding immigration agents from making stops based solely on factors such as race or ethnicity, speaking Spanish, or one’s place or type of work. This ruling effectively grants the federal government permission to resume racially discriminatory and constitutionally flawed immigration enforcement operations. 

This decision has chilling implications for Latino communities nationwide, undermining Fourth Amendment protections and promoting racial profiling. In her dissent, Justice Sotomayor warned that the ruling “all but declared that all Latinos, U.S. citizens or not, who work low‑wage jobs are fair game to be seized at any time…” We echo that concern. 

Locally, our community continues to be traumatized by federal enforcement actions, including the dramatic operation on June 3, 2025, on Lake Street in Minneapolis. Heavily armed federal agents, including from ICE and Homeland Security, served a criminal search warrant at a Latino-owned restaurant. Despite official assurances that the operation targeted drug and money-laundering activity, and was not an immigration raid, widespread confusion and fear sparked protests and deepened mistrust among our communities. 

Latino communities deserve protection, not racial profiling, from those sworn to uphold justice and constitutional rights. The MHBA stands united to resist policies that impose fearmongering and racial bias. We remain committed to building a just, equitable legal system for all Minnesotans.