A group of more than 30 Hispanic residents of Texas has filed a federal lawsuit aimed at curbing what they describe as unconstitutional immigration enforcement practices by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, even as federal plans to install additional Border Patrol checkpoints in South Texas have drawn sharp criticism from local officials.
The plaintiffs, who live in communities across the Rio Grande Valley and Houston area, filed the complaint this week in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. They are seeking a court declaration that ICE may not detain U.S. citizens or require people to carry proof of citizenship while in the country, saying such practices violate constitutional protections including due process and the right against unreasonable detention. The lawsuit cites an ICE raid in Donna, in which agents allegedly detained three U.S. citizens while targeting noncitizen residents.
The complaint does not seek monetary damages but instead requests a legal ruling affirming that requiring proof of citizenship to avoid detention is unconstitutional and amounts to racial profiling. Supporters of the suit include Houston‑area Democratic elected officials who have called for greater accountability and congressional action to rein in immigration enforcement authority.
Meanwhile in Starr County, along U.S. Highway 83, local leaders are weighing in against federal plans to establish two new Border Patrol checkpoints in the predominantly Hispanic South Texas community. County Judge Eloy Vera and city officials in Rio Grande City have criticized the initiative as unnecessary and burdensome, especially given historically low numbers of illegal border crossings in the area. They say the increased enforcement presence risks reinforcing negative stereotypes of border residents and causing traffic congestion without clear benefit.
“We already have plenty of law enforcement here,” Vera said, calling the move “harassment” that could further erode trust in government among local residents. The exact locations and permanence of the checkpoints remain unclear, and federal authorities have declined to discuss detailed plans publicly.
Both developments highlight growing concern among Hispanic communities in Texas over federal enforcement tactics that critics argue undermine civil liberties and contribute to fear and uncertainty among lawful residents and citizens alike. Advocates say the legal challenge and local pushback reflect broader calls for immigration policy reform and greater protections for civil rights.