A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction in an ACLU lawsuit challenging the federal immigration agents’ practice of warrantless arrests in Colorado.

The judge also granted provisional class certification, extending the injunction statewide.

“The court has confirmed what has been enshrined in federal law for decades: ICE cannot terrify our communities with their haphazard warrantless arrests,” Tim Macdonald, ACLU of Colorado legal director, said in a statement. 

“A federal court has now declared that ICE must immediately stop these aggressive and unlawful tactics.” 

ICE said it’s mission is to “preserve national security and public safety” and has made 26,000 arrests nationwide in fiscal year 2025, according to its website.

As previously reported by The Denver Gazette, renters at an apartment complex raided by agents from three federal agencies breached doors in the early morning on Feb. 5 and did not provide the warrants used to justify the operation.

Everyone in apartment 301A at Cedar Run disputed that federal agents provided them a judicial warrant.

“They didn’t show nothing,” Fernando Martinez said at the time. “They just let themselves in.”

Located in southeast Denver, Cedar Run Apartments is a 384-unit complex built in 1970 that offers one- and two-bedroom apartments near Cherry Creek.

Having sought copies of those warrants, The Denver Gazette has a pending appeal with the U.S. Department of Justice.

It is unclear whether ICE will appeal the ruling.

Officials could not be immediately reached Tuesday.

It is also unknown how ICE will adjust its enforcement operations in Colorado in light of the order’s limits on warrantless arrests.

Editor’s note: This is a developing story.