LA County highlights Vasquez Perdomo litigation as ACLU accepts human-rights award

Chair Hilda Solis used the board chamber to reaffirm Los Angeles County’s continued legal opposition to federal immigration enforcement practices and to recognize plaintiffs and partner organizations in the Vasquez Perdomo litigation.

“Federal immigration enforcement should be limited by our constitutional right against unlawful search and seizures, and racial profiling,” Solis said, framing recent ICE actions as violations that have affected county employees and residents and recounting incidents she said showed the need for legal remedies.

Solis reminded the board that the county in July directed county counsel to explore legal avenues and later joined as an intervenor plaintiff in Vasquez Perdomo. She said a federal district judge had issued protections for residents against unlawful detention and arrests, though the U.S. Supreme Court later overturned a preliminary injunction; the litigation by the original plaintiffs remains active, she added.

Chandr Betnagar, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California, accepted the Human Rights Award on behalf of the plaintiffs and partner organizations and praised the plaintiffs’ courage. “This honor truly belongs to the brave plaintiffs,” Betnagar said, urging local leaders to continue “taking bold courageous action against authoritarianism and in defense of human rights.”

Solis thanked community organizations named in the transcript — the ACLU, Public Counsel, CHIRLA, United Farm Workers, and others — for coordinating litigation and supporting affected residents. She also noted recent local incidents involving ICE stops of county employees as part of the context for the county’s legal work.

No formal board vote was recorded on litigation policy during the remarks. The board recognized plaintiffs and partner groups and concluded the presentation segment with the award acceptance.

The matter of continued litigation progress and any county-directed legal work remains subject to further action by county counsel and the board.