“At legal odds over ICE”

Del Quentin Wilber and Maura Dolan report in today’s Los Angeles Times about the federal government’s response to charges made by Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye — in a letter, her State of the Judiciary speech, and at least one interview — that immigration agents are “stalking” undocumented immigrants in California courts.  The Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security conceded that agents are making courthouse arrests, but objected to the “stalking” characterization and defended the policy.  The Chief Justice said in a statement she appreciated the “admission that they are in state courthouses making federal arrests” and she reiterated her concerns about the practice — “Making arrests at courthouses, in my view, undermines public safety because victims and witnesses will fear coming to courthouses to help enforce the law.”