In response to recent reports of mistreatment, a federal judge has issued a temporary order limiting how Los Angeles law enforcement can interact with journalists covering street demonstrations.
According to The Hill, U.S. District Judge Hernán D. Vera on Thursday imposed a 14-day temporary restraining order preventing LAPD from arresting or targeting journalists for doing their job at recent protests sparked by immigration enforcement and military deployment in California.
The protests in question erupted in Southern California last month amid heightened tensions over federal immigration enforcement led by ICE and the arrival of National Guard troops, deployed by President Donald Trump despite concerns raised by local officials.
The legal action followed allegations that members of the press were harmed by law enforcement while covering these events. Journalists reported being detained, cited, or allegedly injured by police using less-lethal crowd control methods during the demonstrations.
What the Judge's Order Specifically Prohibits
Judge Vera’s order blocks Los Angeles police from citing, detaining, or arresting journalists for offenses such as remaining in closed protest zones, violating curfews, or obstructing police, so long as the journalists are lawfully engaging in newsgathering work.
Additionally, should a member of the press be detained by LAPD officers, the judge mandated that they must be promptly allowed to speak with a supervising officer ranked captain or higher, to contest their detention, except in cases where this is deemed unfeasible.
In issuing the order, Judge Vera clarified that “if LAPD detains or arrests a person who claims to be a journalist, that person shall be permitted to promptly contact a supervisory officer of the rank of captain or above for purposes of challenging that detention, unless circumstances make it impossible to do so.”
Restraining Order Also Limits Use of Force
Beyond arrest restrictions, the order also restricts how police employ crowd-control tactics against members of the press. Police are now barred from using nonlethal tools such as chemical agents and flash-bang grenades on journalists, provided those journalists do not pose an immediate threat to officers or others.
This development follows claims in the lawsuit that reporters were injured through the use of such less-lethal devices. These injuries were alleged to have occurred while journalists were covering the unrest that followed immigration enforcement actions across the region. The case brings renewed scrutiny to how law enforcement responds to civil unrest, particularly when members of the media are present to document events for the public.
Context Behind Latest Legal Action
The protests that prompted the lawsuit began after a series of sweeping ICE operations in Southern California communities. Tensions escalated further when President Trump sent National Guard forces to Los Angeles to support crowd control efforts.
The deployment was made over the objections of both state and local officials, who raised concerns about escalating tensions and the militarized response to mostly civilian protests. News organizations and press advocacy groups soon claimed that reporters were being swept up in enforcement measures that should not apply to individuals engaging in constitutionally protected journalism.
Hearing Scheduled to Determine Long-Term Measures
The temporary order is set to remain in effect for 14 days. A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled on July 24, 2025, where the court will consider whether the same or additional protections for journalists should be extended for a longer period.
That hearing could result in a more permanent ruling on whether law enforcement practices during protests need to be more strictly limited when it comes to media presence. Until then, the existing order will serve as a legal safeguard for reporters working within protest zones across Los Angeles and ensure access to a chain of command when disputes over detentions arise.
Officials Have Not Issued a Public Response
As of this report’s publication on July 11, 2025, the Los Angeles Police Department had not made any official comment regarding the judge’s order or the broader legal challenges it faces. The department has neither confirmed nor denied the allegations of misconduct cited in the lawsuit, leaving questions unanswered as the hearing date approaches. Observers from journalism advocacy organizations and legal rights groups are watching closely, viewing the case as a potential precedent for how media protections are enforced during periods of public unrest in large cities.
