Tracking ICE Arrests Inside California Courts

Here are the morning’s top stories on Wednesday, April 22, 2026:

• California counties will be able to continue dedicating the bulk of their federal homelessness funds towards permanent housing. That’s because a move by the Trump administration to shift funding priorities towards temporary and sober housing is now on hold following a legal victory this week.
• A program incentivizing large ships to slow along the state’s coastline when whales are present goes into effect statewide today.
• The policy-making body that oversees California’s court system plans to vote on a proposal this Friday that would require courts to collect data on civil arrests inside the state’s courthouses. It comes amid a rise in arrests by federal immigration agents of undocumented people inside and near courthouses across the state and throughout the U.S.

CA Prevents Trump Admin from Withholding Homeless Funds

For now, California will be able to continue dedicating the majority of federal funds towards permanent housing.

In November of last year, the Trump Administration attempted to shift funding priorities towards  temporary and sober housing. Proposed shifts would have prevented counties from spending more than 30% of federal funds on permanent housing. Because of that shift, California along with 19 other states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump Administration.

In December, a judge in Rhode Island blocked the changes and ordered the federal department of Housing and Urban Development to process funding applications under the old rules. The Trump Administration filed an appeal. But on Monday, they withdrew that appeal.

The case is still ongoing, but for the time being, California can continue to prioritize permanent housing. In a statement to CalMatters, a spokesperson for HUD explained that the Trump Administration till stands by the proposed funding reforms.

CA Asks Ships to Slow Down For Whales

Today, a long-awaited program to incentivize large ships to slow to 10 knots or less — a whale-safe speed — goes into effect all along the state’s coastline.

Meanwhile, South Bay Rep. Sam Liccardo is also introducing federal legislation on Wednesday with parallel goals. His Save Willy Act would establish a “whale desk” at San Francisco’s Coast Guard station, creating a centralized place for whale sightings to be reported and mariners to be alerted, helping large ships avoid collisions.

Ship strikes are a leading cause of death for whales. Last year was especially deadly for whales in and around the San Francisco Bay, with more ship-killed whales than usual being found. Also, last year, U.S. government scientists reported gray whale numbers were not bouncing back from recent die-offs, and fewer calves were born than typical.

Data Collection of Arrests in CA Courthouses

California’s Judicial Council, which makes policies for the state’s court system, will decide this Friday if courts in the state will be required to collect data on civil arrests inside the state’s courthouses. This comes amidst a rise in arrests by federal immigration officials in or around courthouses throughout the country.

Prior to the second Trump Administration, federal policy barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement from arresting people at sensitive locations such as hospitals, schools, and courthouses. The reasoning behind this policy was to avoid discouraging people from going to these places.

The state’s Judicial Council cites Washington and New York as other states that both prohibit civil arrests in state court facilities and collects data of civil arrests. The goal of this data is to increase transparency, and to provide more information to the state’s judiciary so that they can assess the impacts these arrests are having on people’s ability to access courts and justice.