Federal Court Certifies Class of Journalists Suing DHS Over Violent Protest Crackdown
A federal court certified a class of journalists suing DHS for excessive force during immigration protests in Los Angeles.
Why it matters: The ruling recognizes systemic law enforcement issues and highlights legal protections for journalists under the First Amendment amid immigration enforcement. It also raises scrutiny on government surveillance tactics against public recorders.
- On June 25, 2026, U.S. District Judge Hernán D. Vera granted class certification to journalists and observers alleging DHS used excessive force during immigration enforcement operations in Southern California.
- Judge Vera stated DHS regards public recording of its agents as a threat, responding with force, including tear gas and less-lethal rounds.
- In September 2025, Judge Vera issued a preliminary injunction barring DHS and LAPD from using crowd-control weapons against journalists based on evidence of targeting marked press.
- In April 2026, a federal appeals court upheld the injunction, affirming plaintiffs’ likely success on First Amendment retaliation claims.
On June 25, 2026, U.S. District Judge Hernán D. Vera certified a class of journalists and observers who filed suit alleging that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) used excessive force against them during immigration enforcement protests in Southern California. According to the court, the plaintiffs have demonstrated that DHS agents treat the public recording of their activities as an unlawful threat and respond with force.
This legal development follows a complaint originally filed in June 2025 after multiple incidents where DHS agents allegedly reacted violently to peaceful demonstrators and journalists. Judge Vera stated, “Under the guise of protecting the public, federal agents have endangered large numbers of peaceful protesters, legal observers, and journalists — as well as the public that relies on them to hold their government accountable.”
In September 2025, Judge Vera had issued a preliminary injunction barring DHS and Los Angeles Police Department officers from deploying crowd-control weapons such as tear gas on individuals clearly marked as journalists. This decision was based on evidence that DHS agents fired tear gas and less-lethal rounds directly at journalists. The injunction was upheld by a federal appeals court in April 2026, which ruled the plaintiffs were likely to prevail on their claims that DHS retaliated against them in violation of the First Amendment.
Ryanne Mena, a journalist and plaintiff in the case, remarked, “In these historic times, when press freedoms are under attack, this decision is a powerful reminder that journalists must be protected, not met with violence.”
This class certification marks an important step recognizing systemic issues in law enforcement’s handling of public scrutiny and raises ongoing questions about the balance between immigration enforcement and constitutional rights.
By the numbers:
- June 25, 2026 — Date federal court certified journalist class action
- June 2025 — Date original complaint filed against DHS
- September 2025 — Preliminary injunction issued against DHS and LAPD
- April 2026 — Federal appeals court upheld injunction favoring plaintiffs