A federal judge ruled Friday that Department of Homeland Security agents have been treating journalists who film immigration operations as threats to be met with force, granting class-action status to reporters and photographers across Southern California who say they’ve been attacked while doing their jobs.
U.S. District Judge Hernán Vera certified a class covering anyone who peacefully films or photographs immigration enforcement operations or protests against those operations in the Central District of California, which includes Los Angeles and Orange County. The ruling came in a lawsuit brought by the Los Angeles Press Club and the News Guild.
Judge Finds Pattern of Force Against Journalists
Vera found the plaintiffs had demonstrated that DHS maintains “a policy of treating the recording of their agents as an unlawful threat that may be responded to with force.” The finding suggests a systematic problem, not isolated incidents of overzealous agents.
The case stems from protests following immigration sweeps in the Paramount section of Los Angeles in early June 2025, where tear gas filled streets as demonstrators confronted Border Patrol personnel. Journalists covering the protests reported being targeted despite clearly identifying themselves as press.
First Amendment Rights at Stake
“As recent events have shown, the ability to record our government at work is critical to accountability and public debate,” said Matthew Borden, attorney for the plaintiffs. He accused DHS of attempting to “monopolize the marketplace” of information about its enforcement activities.
The class certification means journalists won’t have to file individual lawsuits each time they’re allegedly assaulted or threatened while filming immigration operations. Instead, they can pursue relief collectively, potentially forcing policy changes across the agency’s Southern California operations.
What Happens Next
The ruling doesn’t resolve the underlying lawsuit, which will now proceed with all affected journalists as potential class members. The case could establish whether federal agents have the authority to use force against credentialed journalists documenting government operations in public spaces.
For reporters covering immigration enforcement in Southern California, the decision offers a path to challenge what they describe as systematic intimidation. For DHS, it means defending its agents’ conduct before a judge who has already found evidence of a troubling pattern.
Key Points
- Federal judge certified class covering journalists filming immigration operations across Southern California
- Court found DHS has policy treating recording of agents “as an unlawful threat that may be responded to with force”
- Ruling allows collective legal challenge instead of individual lawsuits each time journalists are allegedly attacked
https://www.courthousenews.com/class-certification-granted-for-journalists-suing-over-immigration-protest-crackdown-in-socal/ – June 27, 2026
