FOR IMMEDIATE Release: January 13, 2026

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senator Susan Rubio (D–Baldwin Park) introduced the Keep Courts Safe from ICE Act — groundbreaking legislation to protect families and community members who are simply trying to do the right thing by participating in the justice system, but who are increasingly terrorized and intimidated by aggressive federal immigration enforcement actions. Families shouldn’t be punished for following the legal process.

The bill comes amid national outrage over unlawful raids in 2025 and the recent fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minnesota — a 37-year-old mother of three who was killed during a federal immigration enforcement operation. That incident has sparked protests and demands for accountability nationwide.

“Families should be able to show up to their required court hearings without fear, intimidation, or the risk of harm to themselves or their loved ones,” Senator Rubio said. “Time and time again, people are told to do it the right way — to show up, to comply, to follow the process — and they are. Yet they are still being targeted and attacked for doing exactly that. What happened this week in Minnesota goes far beyond enforcement; it is a horrifying escalation of violence our communities have been warning about for months. Families have been torn apart, fear has been normalized, and now an innocent mother, who panicked and tried to remove herself from harm, is dead. That alone should stop us all in our tracks.”

“For immigrant families, a courthouse should never feel like a trap. When the threat of immigration enforcement keeps people from showing up to court, justice breaks down, survivors remain in danger, parents are separated from their children, and entire families lose faith in a system meant to protect them. This bill sends a powerful message that California’s courts belong to everyone. The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights is proud to work on this critical piece of legislation with Senator Susan Rubio, the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, and the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence to ensure immigrant families can seek justice, safety, and protection without fear,” said Jeannette Zanipatin, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA).

SB 882 would require California state courts to allow a party or witness to appear remotely at a civil or criminal court hearing, trial, or conference through January 31, 2029. The bill is designed to minimize altercations, save taxpayer money, and reduce fear and barriers to participation by ensuring that people who want to appear, testify, or support loved ones in court are not forced into situations where they feel unsafe. “We are responding to real fear in our communities — fear fueled by incidents like the deadly Minnesota shooting and other aggressive enforcement operations,” Rubio said.

Senator Rubio brings unique insight to this issue. Over the past year, she has appeared remotely in court more than a handful of times to testify in her third Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) case, relying on remote participation to protect her safety while ensuring her voice was heard in the justice system. 

“Remote access isn’t theoretical for me — it’s something I’ve relied on when it mattered most,” Rubio said. “Every survivor, every witness, every family deserves the ability to participate safely in our courts.”

“The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence is proud to support the Keep Courts Safe Act. This bill will ensure that domestic violence survivors and all Californians have access to justice without fear that participating in our court processes puts them at risk of detention or deportation. Fear keeps survivors from reaching out for help, imperiling the lives of unknown numbers of people and their children and families. By providing flexibility for survivors to appear in court remotely, this bill will ensure that they can seek domestic violence restraining orders, appear in child custody cases, participate in divorce and child support cases, and more,” said Christopher Negri, Associate Director of Policy, California Partnership to End Domestic Violence.

Rubio’s authorship of SB 538 (2021) — which expanded remote court appearances for domestic violence restraining order hearings — has already reduced anxiety and increased access for survivors statewide and shows why her background and experience make her the perfect person to pursue this cause.

SB 882 would require courts to offer parties and witnesses the opportunity to appear remotely and ensures courts remain places of justice — not fear. California courts have successfully utilized remote hearings for more than five years, with thousands of daily remote proceedings and overwhelmingly positive participant feedback.

“As an organization rooted in the Inland Empire, we have witnessed firsthand the violence, fear, and kidnappings that immigrant communities are facing as a result of aggressive enforcement tactics. Courthouses should be places of safety and justice, not sites of intimidation. The Keep Courts Safe from ICE Act is a critical step to ensure that victims, witnesses, and families can participate in the legal system without fear of detention or deportation. That is why we are proud to cosponsor this bill along with CHIRLA and the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, and we are thankful for Senator Rubio’s strong leadership in this issue. We look forward to productive conversations with members of the Legislature and interested parties to craft the most protective bill possible,” said Javier Hernandez, Executive Director, Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice.

SB 882 will protect families, allowing them to exercise due process without jeopardizing their ability to continue their pathway to legal citizenship. Bottom line — all Californians deserve the right to pursue justice without fear.

Senator Rubio is available for interviews in English or Spanish. To schedule an interview, please contact Giovanni Ruiz at Giovanni.RuizReyes@sen.ca.gov. 

For more information, visit the website of Senator Susan Rubio at senate.ca.gov/rubio