The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to direct county counsel to explore legal remedies to protect residents from immigration‑enforcement tactics that supervisors said include officers operating in civilian clothing, failing to display badges and detaining people without apparent warrants.

Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, who authored the motion with Supervisor Lindsay Horvath, cited multiple reports and videos of federal agents detaining people at car washes, Home Depot parking lots and other public places. "The Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures," Solis said. "When law enforcement officers stop and question or detain someone without reasonable suspicion, or when they make an arrest without probable cause, they are indeed violating that person's constitutional and civil rights."

Supervisor Horvath described residents as "scared" and said the tactics are "racially motivated harassment, intimidation, and kidnappings directed towards hardworking people of color." Supervisor Holly Mitchell and other board members described graphic videos of people being thrown to the ground and questioned how to protect residents and hold federal actors accountable.

The board asked county counsel to immediately examine all legal remedies available to the county to prevent unconstitutional searches, seizures and detentions, and to consider injunctive relief and other court actions in coordination with cities and community partners. The motion also directs coordination with local law enforcement and community partners to improve identification and communication protocols during enforcement actions.

Public commenters and immigrant‑rights groups urged swift action. Mary Ellen Cody of the Rapid Response Network described incidents in South Whittier and said a U.S. citizen was briefly detained and then returned to the car wash, an incident she presented as an example of unlawful detention. Community groups stressed the need for coordinated legal responses and for county leadership to pursue remedies quickly.

The board voted 5-0 to approve the motion and instructed county counsel to report back on possible legal steps and options.