Congressional Hispanic Caucus Calls on U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to Investigate Warrantless Immigration Stops

Washington, D.C. – The CHC submitted a formal letter urging an immediate investigation into the impacts of the Supreme Court’s decision in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo on Latinos. The high court’s ruling allows federal agents to continue their practice of warrantless stops and detention of individuals simply based on factors like apparent ethnicity, language, or occupation. 

On Friday, CHC staff presented the formal letter during their testimony before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. They warned that this ruling undermines Fourth Amendment protections, invites racial profiling, and puts millions of Latino residents at risk of unlawful enforcement.

“This ruling sets a deeply troubling precedent,” said CHC Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat. “Latino communities should not be subjected to arbitrary stops based on how they look or sound. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights must act swiftly to assess the damage and safeguard our hard-fought rights.”

The CHC calls on the Commission to:

Investigate the ruling’s impact on Latino communities
Gather testimony from affected individuals and community leaders
Issue a public report with recommendations for federal and legislative action
Recommend congressional oversight to prevent misuse or expansion of the decision