California Courts Track ICE Arrests, New Bill Aims to Ban

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California's top judicial council just approved a new rule, forcing trial courts to track

and report all civil arrests on site, including those by ICE, agents.

This kicks in starting June across the state's 58th Superior Courts, the biggest system

in the country. It's a direct response to a sharp spike in immigration

detentions right at court houses. The state already bans arrests for immigration, or

other civil issues inside court buildings, unless agents show a judge sign warrant.

But lawyers say ICE keeps showing up anyway, grabbing folks in hallways, parking lots

and exits from places like Los Angeles to Sacramento. Judges, attorneys, and advocates

are fired up because victims of domestic violence, wage theft, and abuse are now too

scared to show up or testify. Witnesses skip out, cases fall apart, and folks warrant

clients to watch their backs. Even the Chief Justice called it a drag on justice.

Now courts will log details like whether agents flashed ID or warrants, plus dates and

spots. Data collection starts soon to gauge the problem size, but critics like policy

advocates say it's just a start, hundreds of grabs since January under. The Trump

admin and no real fixes yet. Meanwhile, a bill called SB 873 is pushing through the

legislature to beef up the ban, let people sue violators for $10,000 each, and protect

folks heading to and from court. It's part of California's bigger fight back against

ramped up enforcement everywhere from stores to streets.