conv.

All stories
SecurityQuiet 2d · day 3

Judge blocks warrantless ICE construction site raids in Alabama

Federal judge temporarily halts DHS tactics that led to repeated detention of U.S. citizen despite valid ID.

newest coverage 2d agosummary written 2d ago4 pieces NewswiresReddit

What to know

  • A federal judge temporarily blocked DHS from conducting warrantless raids on construction sites, detaining workers without reasonable suspicion, or continuing to hold people who show valid citizenship documents.
  • The case stems from repeated detentions of Leonardo Garcia Venegas, a Florida-born U.S. citizen, who was held three times by ICE despite possessing valid Alabama STAR ID and stating his citizenship.
  • Judge Beaverstock ruled the government likely violated the Fourth Amendment and rejected the argument that construction sites qualify as open fields officers may enter without warrants.
  • The temporary stay applies to several counties in southern Alabama while the class-action lawsuit proceeds; a full preliminary injunction was not granted.

“Here, the nature of the worksite does not open the floodgates to warrantless government intrusion and there exists no justification to enter a construction site that is not open to the public to conduct warrantless seizure.”

Chief U.S. District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock, Federal judge · Reason ↗

Leonardo Garcia Venegas U.S. citizen construction worker, lead plaintiffChief U.S. District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock Federal judgeDepartment of Homeland SecurityDepartment of Homeland Security Enforcement agencyInstitute for Justice Public interest law firm

Judge blocks warrantless ICE construction site raids in Alabama
reason.com

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 1 piece in one hour at Sep 21, 12 PM; 4 pieces over 3 days (3 articles · 1 post) Sep 21, 12 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 21, 1 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 21, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Reddit 1Sep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quiet 12
Sep 22yesterdaynow · 4:43 AM ET
  1. 2

    Institute for Justice calls ruling a blow to DHS enforcement practices

    Jared McClain, senior attorney at the Institute for Justice, characterized the order as significant vindication, while Venegas expressed relief at being able to work without fear of arrest.

    “For the first time in a long time, I will be able to go to work without worrying that I will be arrested for no reason.”
    — Leonardo Garcia Venegas
  2. 1

    Judge Beaverstock temporarily blocks warrantless ICE construction site tactics

    Chief U.S. District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock issued a stay blocking DHS agents from entering private job sites without a warrant, conducting roundups without reasonable suspicion, and detaining people who show proof of lawful presence. The judge found the government likely violated the Fourth Amendment and rejected the argument that construction sites are open fields officers may enter at will.

    “The court is not persuaded by the government's position that it never needs a warrant to enter a construction site.”
    — Chief U.S. District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock
    1. 2 outlets Alabama judge freezes ICE construction site tactics after US citizen targeted

      first by Courthouse News, 2d ago · also Washington Times

      1 more headline

    2. 1 outlet first by Reason, 2d ago · read ↗

  3. background

    Venegas testifies about third ICE detention and impact on his life — Venegas testified in a May 2026 hearing that he had been detained a third time and now fears driving to work or going to the store.

  4. background

    Institute for Justice files class-action lawsuit on Venegas's behalf — A public interest law firm filed a class-action lawsuit challenging DHS policies allowing warrantless raids on construction sites, preemptive detention without reasonable suspicion, and continued detention despite evidence of citizenship.

  5. background

    Officers detain Venegas again, reject his ID a second time — An ICE officer walked into a nearly finished house, marched Venegas to an unmarked car with other Latino workers, and rejected his ID again. He was released after citizenship was confirmed and never charged.

  6. background

    ICE agents detain construction worker without warrant — Masked officers jumped a fence at a construction site, bypassed non-Latino workers, tackled Leonardo Garcia Venegas and his brother, and held Venegas for over an hour despite him showing an Alabama STAR ID and stating he was a citizen.