"Victims of crimes such as domestic violence, sexual abuse and wage theft, advocates say, are declining to seek relief in court out of fear of encountering immigration enforcement there, hurting people's access to justice."
"It's a foundational element of democracy to have a functioning court system. And when people are afraid to go to court for whatever reason, you've really denied justice to an entire segment of our residents."
"SB 873, the bill that would strengthen California's ban on civil arrests at courthouses, would also authorize the attorney general and those who are arrested to sue over violations."
California's trial courts may soon be required to collect data on civil arrests, particularly by federal immigration agents. Advocates argue that fear of immigration enforcement deters victims of crimes from seeking justice in court. Current state law prohibits immigration-related arrests at court buildings without a judicial warrant, but enforcement has been inconsistent. A proposed bill, SB 873, aims to strengthen these protections and allow individuals to sue for violations, potentially receiving damages of $10,000.
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