On March 25, 2026, Senate Bill 873, known as the “Kick ICE Out of Courts” bill, was amended to include more clearly defined restrictions regarding its enforcement zones. SB 873 was first introduced by California State Senators Eloise Gómez Reyes and Tom Umberg in January 2026 to reduce immigration enforcement at courthouses by prohibiting on-premise civil arrests without judicial warrants. March provisions added clauses to extend the enforcement-free zone to a 1,000-foot perimeter of courthouses.
The bill was proposed to ensure safe access to the justice system for individuals traveling to or from court sessions and to solidify “sanctuary” protections. If passed, federal ICE agents would be legally required to possess a valid judicial warrant instead of the standard administrative ICE warrants. Additionally, agents would have to clearly identify themselves to court personnel to execute an arrest in these zones.
This legislation comes amid an uptick in immigration sweeps, especially near schools, churches, and private residences. In September 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law to decrease the likelihood of ICE targeting children in classrooms and patients in hospitals. SB 873 builds on this measure by specifically addressing courthouses, with the goal of mitigating fears that may cause individuals to avoid legal proceedings
Challenges Over State and Federal Jurisdiction Regarding Courthouse Arrests
The bill is currently “In Committee,” where it will undergo initial hearings regarding its constitutional standing and potential impacts. As the proposed bill operates at the state level, one challenge raised is its enforceability against federal agents and their potential penalization for violations. Typically, federal law supersedes state-level restrictions regarding federal law enforcement activity.
ICE officers are generally supposed to avoid enforcement actions in or near courthouses dedicated to non-criminal proceedings. However, at the federal level, when ICE agents and officers have credible information that a particular individual is at a specific location, including in or near courthouses, they can conduct civil immigration enforcement actions. Local laws can restrict or prohibit certain civil immigration enforcement actions where they are in effect. Additionally, before ICE agents proceed with civil immigration enforcement actions in or near courthouses, they must coordinate with the proper local ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor.
The policy committee will further analyze SB 873’s legal enforceability against federal agents. If passed by the committee, the bill will then move to a full vote in the State Senate and then proceed to the Assembly.
Contact A Deportation Attorney Today
Reeves Immigration Law Group has been helping individuals achieve their desired legal results for over 40 years, finding success in some of the most complex cases. We understand that the possibility of facing deportation is scary, and we highly advise immigrants to remain cooperative with local law officers. With consistently changing legislation, we recommend proactively contacting one of our skilled and knowledgeable deportation attorneys today to discuss your legal concerns.
