A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a lower court ruling that temporarily bars federal immigration agents from conducting arrests in Los Angeles without probable cause, dealing a blow to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agenda.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the administration’s attempt to suspend a restraining order issued earlier this summer. In its decision, the three-judge panel found it likely that the arrests were being carried out based on impermissible factors such as race, language, or location—rather than legitimate legal grounds.

The case stems from a lawsuit filed in June by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which accused federal agents of using racially discriminatory tactics to meet internal immigration arrest targets. The lawsuit was joined by the city of Los Angeles and other Southern California municipalities, who allege that the federal government engaged in racial profiling and denied detainees access to legal counsel.

The legal dispute follows a controversial decision by President Donald Trump to deploy National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles amid public outcry over the raids. The move, widely criticized by civil rights groups and local officials, marked a rare use of military personnel in support of domestic law enforcement.

A state judge had previously issued a temporary injunction barring the federal government from using race or ethnicity as a basis for identifying deportation targets or denying individuals their right to an attorney.

Friday’s appeals court decision reinforces those restrictions, preventing federal agents from making arrests based solely on a person’s race, spoken language, or presence in specific locations such as day laborer pickup sites, car washes, tow yards, agricultural fields, or bus stops.

Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued an immediate response to the ruling.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass praised the court’s decision, calling it a crucial safeguard for civil rights. “The restraining order that protects our communities from racially discriminatory and illegal immigration enforcement tactics will remain in effect,” she said.

Mohammad Tajsar, a senior attorney at the ACLU of Southern California, echoed that sentiment, saying, “This ruling further confirms that the administration’s militarized immigration raids violated the Constitution and caused profound harm across the region.”

The case is expected to continue as federal officials weigh their next legal steps.