加州联邦法官玛姆·埃武西-门萨·弗林庞在2月裁定国土安全部藐视法庭[1]，原因是该部门未能按时提交移民特工个人手机的数字副本[1]。法官随即下令每日罚款500美元，直至国土安全部提交相关记录并赔偿律师费用[1]。这一纠纷源于2025年洛杉矶一场有争议的移民突袭行动[1]。
法官在1月曾命令加快对800多名特工手机的成像处理[1]。国土安全部在6月承认未提交记录，并表示其处理速度仅为每两周三部手机[1]。按照目前的进度，完成手机处理需要近四年时间[1]。
这些特工手机中的证据涉及敏感内容。调查发现特工在文本消息和体摄像头画面中使用种族歧视性语言，包括"wet"和"tonks"等词汇来识别拉丁美洲工薪族[1]。美国公民自由联盟的律师要求法院发布禁止基于种族进行拘留的新命令[1]。
U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong found the Department of Homeland Security in contempt of court in February 2025, citing the agency's failure to timely submit digital copies of personal cell phones belonging to immigration agents involved in controversial Los Angeles enforcement operations.[1] The contempt ruling stems from a January court order requiring expedited imaging of phones from more than 800 agents.[1]
The judge imposed a daily fine of $500 until the department complies with the disclosure order and compensates attorney fees.[1] As of June, Homeland Security acknowledged it had not submitted the records, reporting that its processing capacity allowed for only three phones every two weeks.[1] At that pace, completing the imaging of all phones would take nearly four years.[1]
The underlying case centers on evidence that agents used racially disparaging language in text messages and body camera footage to identify Latino workers, including the terms "wet" and "tonks."[1] American Civil Liberties Union lawyers have called for the judge to issue an additional order prohibiting arrests based on racial profiling.[1]