The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents can restart large-scale raids in Los Angeles on Sept. 9, overturning a Central District of California court order that had blocked the sweeps. 

The 6-3 decision allows ICE agents to stop people in public places if agents believe they may be in the country illegally. The earlier order, from federal judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpongin in California, warned that such patrols relied on improper factors, an example being race or accents.

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh issued the majority opinion, saying agents can use the “totality of the particular circumstances,” including where someone is, what language they speak, and how they act, to decide whether to stop them. He said race alone is not enough, but that ICE can consider it along with other details. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned “We should not have to live in a country where the Government can seize anyone who looks Latino.”

Immigrant advocates such as the ACLU of Southern California criticized the decision and said they’d continue to challenge it in court. The ruling is a major victory for the Trump administration, which has pushed for tougher immigration enforcement nationwide. Officials at the Justice Department argued that the raids are needed to track down undocumented immigrants and protect public safety.

A hearing is set for Sept. 24 to continue the lawsuit. But for now, ICE has the court’s approval to restart patrols in Los Angeles, raising new concerns among immigrant families in the city.

This is a developing story.