Sotomayor apologizes for criticizing Kavanaugh over ICE arrests

Published: Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 12:34 am

Sotomayor Apologizes for Criticizing Kavanaugh Over ICE Ruling

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has issued a public apology for remarks she made criticizing Justice Brett Kavanaugh regarding a recent Supreme Court decision on immigration enforcement. The apology, released Wednesday, stemmed from comments Sotomayor made at the University of Kansas School of Law.

During the event, Sotomayor criticized a Supreme Court order that allowed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to resume broad sweeps in Los Angeles. The order overturned a lower court ruling that had restricted ICE's practices, specifically regarding the detention of individuals based on factors like race, occupation, or the use of Spanish. Kavanaugh, in a written concurrence, argued that ethnicity could be a relevant factor in immigration stops, which he characterized as typically "brief encounters."

Sotomayor, in her remarks, appeared to suggest that Kavanaugh's background influenced his perspective on the issue. She reportedly stated that Kavanaugh "probably doesn't really know any person who works by the hour." Kavanaugh's parents were professionals, while Sotomayor grew up in a Bronx public housing complex.

The Supreme Court order in question, issued in September 2025, had significant implications for immigration enforcement. The lower court had found that ICE had unlawfully detained individuals. Sotomayor, in a dissenting opinion, argued that the ruling effectively allowed the government to target Latinos working low-wage jobs. She wrote that the ruling would allow the government to seize anyone who "looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low wage job."

The public criticism of a fellow justice's background is unusual, as the court's justices typically emphasize that their disagreements are not personal. Sotomayor herself, in a 2018 interview, referred to the justices as a "family."

BNN's Perspective:

While it is understandable for justices to hold strong opinions on legal matters, it is crucial for them to maintain a level of decorum and avoid personal attacks. Sotomayor's apology is a positive step in reaffirming the importance of respectful discourse within the Supreme Court. The incident highlights the potential for differing life experiences to shape judicial perspectives, but it also underscores the need for justices to focus on legal arguments rather than personal backgrounds.

Keywords: Sonia Sotomayor, Brett Kavanaugh, Supreme Court, ICE, immigration, apology, Kansas, legal, ruling, dissent, ethnicity, enforcement, court order, justice, opinions

Full Story