Church Members Maintain Presence at Santa Ana Immigration Court | KQED

"Last summer, when the Trump administration began its crackdown in earnest, ICE officers would often sit inside, or just outside courtrooms, and take people into custody as soon as their case was dismissed. At the time, the court observers concentrated on getting personal information from the detainees so they could contact their families and help them locate their loved ones in ICE facilities."

"These days, observers say they haven't seen ICE agents in courtrooms since the fall. So the observers' mission has shifted to trying to get legal representation for people facing deportation proceedings without a lawyer."

"Cecilia Farfan leads the North American Observatory, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. She said she remains 'cautiously optimistic that this calm will remain.' Farfan went on to say the cartels typically respond like this whenever their high-level leaders are detained or killed."

Court observers monitoring immigration proceedings have adapted their approach following changes in ICE enforcement tactics. Previously, when the Trump administration intensified its crackdown, ICE officers stationed themselves inside or outside courtrooms to apprehend individuals immediately after case dismissals. Observers initially focused on collecting personal information from detainees to help families locate loved ones in ICE facilities. Since fall 2025, ICE agents have been largely absent from courtrooms, prompting observers to redirect their efforts toward securing legal representation for people facing deportation proceedings without attorneys. Additionally, cartel violence in Mexico has temporarily subsided following military arrests of high-level members, and a four-week Kaiser Permanente strike involving thousands of healthcare workers ended without a finalized contract.

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