A federal judge has declared that the US government continues to violate the constitutional rights of detained immigrants by systematically blocking their access to legal representation at a facility in Los Angeles.
Court Order and Government Non-Compliance
On Friday, 14th November 2025, Judge Maame E. Frimpong in Los Angeles delivered a ruling stating that the Trump administration had failed to fully comply with a previous court order. This order, issued in July, was a temporary injunction requiring the government to provide detainees with confidential phone calls and proper access to their attorneys.
The judge found that the plaintiffs had presented compelling evidence showing the government was still partially blocking access to lawyers. The July mandate specifically required the downtown LA detention facility to remain open for attorney visits seven days a week, for a minimum of eight hours on weekdays and four hours on weekends and holidays.
While the government met these opening hours, it failed on other critical fronts. The court had also mandated that officials must notify the plaintiffs' lawyers within four hours of any facility closure and ensure such closures did not last longer than “reasonably necessary.”
Ongoing Obstacles for Legal Defence
During an October 23rd hearing, Mark Rosenbaum, an attorney with Public Counsel, detailed the persistent challenges. He revealed that attorneys did not start receiving any closure notifications until 10th September, long after the July order.
Furthermore, lawyers often found their meetings with clients were not private. They were forced to confer with the door open and guards present, severely compromising attorney-client confidentiality. Rosenbaum also cited instances where the facility was closed due to a peaceful protest happening miles away in another city, a justification the court likely found unreasonable.
Another significant tactic impeding legal access involved the frequent and unannounced transfer of detainees. Individuals were moved from the downtown Los Angeles location to other sites that do not permit lawyer visits at all, effectively cutting them off from their legal counsel.
Broader Implications of the Ruling
In her order, Judge Frimpong made it clear that the government's actions were unconstitutional. She reinforced the principle that the state cannot detain people and then isolate them from the legal assistance they are entitled to.
Following the ruling, Mark Rosenbaum stated, “By granting this preliminary injunction, the judge made clear that the government cannot lock people up and cut them off from their lawyers.” The lawsuit, originally filed by immigrant advocacy groups in July, accuses the administration of carrying out warrantless arrests and targeting individuals based on their race as part of a wider immigration crackdown in Southern California.
The Department of Homeland Security has not yet issued a public response to the judge's latest order or the allegations presented in court.
