California Democrats Unveil New Plans to Confront ICE

Measures include taxes on detention centers, lawsuits against federal agents, and bans on local police moonlighting as immigration officers.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 1:23pm by Ben Kaplan

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California Democratic senators have advanced a series of measures aimed at confronting aggressive federal immigration enforcement tactics. The bills would make it easier to sue federal agents over civil rights violations, tax for-profit detention centers, prohibit local police from moonlighting as immigration agents, and limit ICE's ability to make arrests in courthouses.

Why it matters

These new legislative efforts demonstrate California's continued resistance to the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign and aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. The state is seeking to provide more protections for immigrant communities and hold federal agents accountable for civil rights violations.

The details

The key bills include the 'No Kings Act' which would make it easier to sue federal agents, a measure to prohibit local police from taking second jobs as immigration officers, and legislation to prevent ICE from making arrests in courthouses. Lawmakers are also proposing a 50% tax on profits from immigration detention centers in the state.

  • The 'No Kings Act' was advanced by the state Senate on January 28, 2026.
  • The bill to prohibit police moonlighting as immigration agents was introduced earlier this month.

The players

Scott Wiener

California state senator and co-author of the 'No Kings Act'.

Aisha Wahab

California state senator and co-author of the 'No Kings Act'.

Isaac Bryan

California state assemblymember who authored a bill to prohibit local police from taking second jobs as immigration agents.

Eloise Gómez Reyes

California state senator who introduced legislation to prevent ICE arrests in courthouses.

Matt Haney

California state assemblymember who introduced a bill to tax profits from immigration detention centers.

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What they’re saying

“It's a sad statement on where we are in this country that this has to be a partisan issue. Red, blue, everyone has constitutional rights. And everyone should have the ability to hold people accountable when they violate those rights.”

— Scott Wiener, California state senator (sfchronicle.com)

“The federal administration has created not just a secret police but a secret military at the expense of health care, social safety nets, and key benefits that the American people need and rely on to make it through the day. All of those resources have been rerouted to the unaccounted militarized force patrolling our streets and literally killing American citizens.”

— Isaac Bryan, California state assemblymember (CalMatters)

“The issue is clear cut. One of the core responsibilities of government is to protect people — not to inflict terror on them. California is not going to let the federal government make political targets out of people trying to be good stewards of the law. Discouraging people from coming to court makes our community less safe.”

— Eloise Gómez Reyes, California state senator (CalMatters)

What’s next

The 'No Kings Act' will next be considered by the California State Assembly. The bill to prohibit police moonlighting as immigration agents and the measure to limit ICE arrests in courthouses will also advance through the legislative process.

The takeaway

California is escalating its resistance to aggressive federal immigration enforcement tactics through a series of new legislative proposals. These measures aim to provide more protections for immigrant communities, hold federal agents accountable, and limit the ability of local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE.