California filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on October 15, 2026, marking the 100th legal action taken by the state in under two years. The lawsuit challenges the practice of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arresting individuals for alleged civil immigration violations at or near state courthouses. California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that such arrests are unconstitutional and disrupt the rule of law, adversely affecting victims, witnesses, defendants, and other parties involved in court proceedings.
Bonta noted that the fear of arrest has led to serious criminal charges being dropped and cases being jeopardized, as victims and witnesses are reluctant to testify in court. He described the frequency of lawsuits against the Trump administration as a “sobering milestone,” arguing that it reflects the administration's disregard for the law rather than political interference from California.
Independent legal experts attribute the increase in lawsuits to various factors, including the aggressive use of executive power by the Trump administration and the response from state attorneys general. During Trump's first term, California, under former Attorney General Xavier Becerra, filed over 120 lawsuits against the administration.
Bonta claimed that his lawsuits have saved California more than $200 billion by reversing cuts to federal funding. The White House has dismissed Bonta's litigation as baseless, with spokesperson Lauren Bis suggesting he should focus on issues within California rather than filing what she termed “frivolous lawsuits.”
ICE has defended its practice of making arrests near courthouses, describing it as a “common sense” approach. However, Bonta's lawsuit argues that these arrests violate the Immigration and Nationality Act and infringe on California's rights under the 10th Amendment.
The rise in courthouse arrests coincided with Trump's administration, with an ICE memo from May 2025 allowing agents to conduct civil immigration enforcement actions in or near courthouses. Reports indicate that arrests have occurred outside courthouses across California, leading to concerns from legal professionals about the impact on due process.
In June 2026, a U.S. District Judge in San Francisco struck down ICE’s expanded courthouse arrest policies, restoring earlier restrictions. The Trump administration is appealing this ruling. California has also enacted a law to strengthen protections against civil arrests near courthouses, extending these protections to public areas within 1,000 feet of court facilities.
Bonta emphasized the necessity of the lawsuit despite the new state law, citing the Trump administration's belief that state laws do not apply to them. He expressed pride in his team's efforts to challenge the administration whenever they believed it had violated the law.
The outcome of future lawsuits will depend on the actions of the Trump administration, according to Bonta, who indicated that California would continue to pursue legal action if the administration continues to break the law in ways that harm the state or its residents.