California Policy and Politics Monday

Video shows military-style vehicle in what witnesses say was a Compton immigration raid -- A military-style vehicle was used in an immigration raid in Compton on June 9, according to witnesses and video of the incident. Connor Sheets in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/16/25

California police are illegally sharing license plate data with ICE and Border Patrol -- Law enforcement agencies across Southern California violated state law more than 100 times last month by sharing information from automated license plate readers with federal agents, records show. Khari Johnson and Mohamed Al Elew, CalMatters in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 06/16/25

ICE's cash crisis deepens amid immigration crackdown -- President Trump's immigration crackdown is burning through cash so quickly that the agency charged with arresting, detaining and removing unauthorized immigrants could run out of money next month. Brittany Gibson Axios -- 06/16/25

Sen. Padilla denies clash at news conference was a ploy for attention -- “Nothing could be further from the truth. Again, what are the odds?” the Democrat told CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday on “State of the Union.” Gregory Svirnovskiy Politico -- 06/16/25

Skelton: Padilla was right to challenge Noem’s right-wing lunacy -- Sen. Alex Padilla had heard all he could stand from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. For good reason. She was sounding like a military dictator and brushing off California voters. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/16/25

Immigration raids continue as Trump appears to soften on targeting some workplaces -- Immigration raids continuted to spark anxiety and anger over the weekend across Southern California, even as President Trump appeared to signal he might back off from some workplace raids. Jasmine Mendez, Nathan Solis, Stephanie Breijo and Jack Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/16/25

Ice raids target workers at Home Depots who build much of LA: ‘This community has been here for decades’ -- Chain has long maintained relationship with undocumented laborers who gather in parking lots, hoping to get hired for a day of painting or roofing. Maanvi Singh The Guardian -- 06/16/25

‘I’m an American, Bro!’: Latinos Report Raids in Which U.S. Citizenship Is Questioned -- A raid in Montebello, Calif., has stirred fears that federal agents are detaining and racially profiling U.S. citizens of Hispanic descent. Jennifer Medina in the New York Times$ -- 06/16/25

Anxious father seeks to satisfy ICE summons, but S.F. office closes amid protests -- The 36-year-old construction worker from El Salvador drove with his wife and two kids through San Francisco on Saturday riddled with anxiety, weaving past No Kings Day demonstrators setting up for a day of protest against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Matthias Gafni in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 06/16/25

Sacramento lawmaker asks feds about courthouse closure, immigrant detentions -- Sacramento Assemblymember Maggy Krell is seeking more information about why public access to the John E. Moss Federal Building in downtown Sacramento was restricted Friday, and what Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were doing inside the courthouse. Kate Wolffe in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 06/16/25

Smaller but determined crowds march downtown as heat rises: ‘L.A.’s too hot for ICE’ -- Downtown Los Angeles was much quieter Sunday afternoon than it was during Saturday’s heavily attended “No Kings” protests. But — amid summer-like heat — around 200 activists were determined to keep the anti-ICE and anti-Trump protests going. Grace Toohey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/16/25

L.A. neighborhoods clear out as immigration raids send people underground -- A week of immigration sweeps across Southern California has left some communities eerily quiet, with some residents saying they are avoiding going out and attending to routine business out of fear of being stopped. Ruben Vives, James Rainey and Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/16/25

‘Happy, but tense’: LAUSD graduations continue safely amid regional ICE activity -- Students and families experienced a mix of joy and anxiety before and during ceremonies. Commencements remained safe amid regional ICE presence. LAUSD deployed school police and communities established volunteer efforts to ensure safety. Mallika Seshadri and Betty Márquez Rosales EdSource -- 06/16/25

Mariachis and ballet folklórico energize resistance in L.A. protests -- The musicians and dancers say they are pushing back on immigration raids “through the culture and traditions that represent us. We will not be silenced.” María Luisa Paúl in the Washington Post$ -- 06/16/25

Workplace

California’s ‘No Robo Bosses Act’ advances, taking aim at artificial intelligence in the workplace -- As artificial intelligence gives new, powerful tools to employers seeking to streamline hiring and monitor workers, a bill is advancing through the California Legislature to address fears that the technology could unfairly deny workers jobs and promotions or lead to punishment and firings. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 06/16/25

Wildfire

California’s Big Question: How Brutal Will the Summer Wildfire Season Be? -- With Los Angeles still recovering from the devastating fires that killed at least 30 people and destroyed thousands of homes, California’s residents are being warned that the summer, typically the worst season for wildfires, could be especially brutal this year. Amy Graff in the New York Times$ -- 06/16/25

Which parts of California are at highest fire risk this summer? -- After two years of devastating wildfire in 2020 and 2021, California experienced three relatively mild years in a row. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 06/16/25

We set a big chunk of California wilderness on fire. You’re welcome -- California authorities say the sweeping DOGE staffing cuts at the U.S. Forest Service will mean fewer prescribed burns leading into this year’s wildfire season. Here’s why that scares them. Jack Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/16/25

California says OC doesn’t qualify for federal fire assistance grant for Airport fire -- The head of the governor’s Office of Emergency Services has told Orange County officials that their application for a federal fire grant from FEMA for the Airport fire won’t be moving forward despite pleas from local lawmakers and public safety officials. Michael Slaten in the Orange County Register$ -- 06/16/25

Homeless

A federal judge weighs turning L.A. city’s homelessness programs over to a receiver -- After hearing seven days of testimony, a federal judge is deliberating on a request from a group of business owners, property owners and residents to place the city of Los Angeles’ billion-dollar homelessness programs under a receivership. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/16/25

Homelessness is top of mind for many Californians. Why does the proposed budget eliminate funding for it? -- California’s main source of homelessness funding would drop from $1 billion last year to $0 this year in the proposed state budget. Marisa Kendall Calmatters -- 06/16/25

Housing

Eviction cases still soaring in the Bay Area five years after COVID-19 -- Courts are slammed across the region years after pandemic-era eviction protections began to expire. Grant Stringer in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 06/16/25

Education

Immigration Raids Add to Absence Crisis for Schools -- Now, new research provides evidence that immigration raids did appear to lower school attendance. A Stanford University study found that parents kept their children out of school more often after raids swept California’s Central Valley this winter. Dana Goldstein, Irene Casado Sanchez, Mark Abramson in the New York Times$ -- 06/16/25

Financial aid fraud is on the rise in California. How federal officials plan to crack down -- The U.S. Department of Education will begin more rigorous screening of financial aid applicants, citing instances of fraud at California’s community colleges. Adam Echelman Calmatters -- 06/16/25

LAUSD agrees to fund $900 million to settle sexual assault lawsuits -- The Los Angeles Unified School District board has quietly approved borrowing nearly $900 million — including interest — to settle decades-old sexual assault cases involving former students. Thomas Peele and Mallika Seshadri EdSource -- 06/16/25

Street

Prison Reform Left Women Behind. Then Prosecutors Stepped In -- California passed the nation’s first prosecutor-initiated resentencing law in 2018. Few women benefited from these laws, until now. Issie Lapowsky in the New York Times$ -- 06/16/25

Parking tickets

San Diego issues thousands of tickets for parking too close to crosswalks — and brings in huge cash -- Critics say the city, which raised fines for the new violation from $77.50 to $117 two days after enforcement began March 1, is trying to balance its budget on the backs of unsuspecting drivers unaware of the new law. David Garrick in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 06/16/25

COVID

COVID ‘razor blade throat’ rises as new subvariant spreads in California -- COVID-19 appears to be on the rise in some parts of California as a new, highly contagious subvariant — featuring “razor blade throat” symptoms overseas — is becoming increasingly dominant. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/16/25

VA Healthcare

Extremely disturbing and unethical’: new rules allow VA doctors to refuse to treat Democrats, unmarried veterans -- Doctors at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals nationwide could refuse to treat unmarried veterans and Democrats under new hospital guidelines imposed following an executive order by Donald Trump. Aaron Glantz The Guardian -- 06/16/25

Also

Strangers in the middle of a city: The John and Jane Does of L.A. General Medical Center -- At the busiest trauma center west of Texas, hospital staff race to identify dozens of patients who have no identification and are too ill to say who they are. Corinne Purtill in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/16/25

CalMatters’ Digital Democracy and CBS News collaboration wins Emmy award -- CalMatters’ Digital Democracy collaboration with CBS-TV has been honored with an Emmy award from the Northern California chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Sonya Quick Calmatters -- 06/16/25

POTUS 47

Trump directs ICE to expand deportations in Democratic-run cities, undeterred by protests -- President Donald Trump on Sunday directed federal immigration officials to prioritize deportations from Democratic-run cities after large protests have erupted in Los Angeles and other major cities against the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Aamer Madhani Associated Press David Cohen Politico -- 06/16/25

Trump administration gives personal data of immigrant Medicaid enrollees to deportation officials -- President Donald Trump’s administration this week provided deportation officials with personal data -- including the immigration status -- on millions of Medicaid enrollees, a move that could make it easier to locate people as part of his sweeping immigration crackdown. Kimberly Kindy and Amanda Seitz Associated Press -- 06/16/25

As National Guard case moves through courts, Trump gains advantage -- President Donald Trump’s takeover of California’s National Guard to fend off immigration protesters in Los Angeles, halted briefly by a federal judge, is starting to climb up the judicial ladder, with a federal appeals court hearing scheduled Tuesday. And the higher it gets, the friendlier the territory would appear to be for Trump. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 06/16/25

‘No way to invest in a career here’: US academics flee overseas to avoid Trump crackdown -- The 23-year-old had recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nanoengineering from the University of California, San Diego, into a fiercely competitive job market. He felt like he’d struck gold. But the relentless cuts to scientific research and attacks on higher education by the Trump administration have turned what felt like a promising academic future into unstable ground. Marina Dunbar The Guardian -- 06/16/25

U.S. could lose more immigrants than it gains for first time in 50 years -- Net migration could turn negative, some economists warn, weighing on economic growth and fueling inflation. Andrew Ackerman and Lauren Kaori Gurley in the Washington Post$ -- 06/16/25

Close Trump Allies Sponsored the Military Parade, Raising Ethical Concerns -- Saturday’s military parade in Washington celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army was sponsored by at least four brands that have strong financial and political ties to President Trump, raising questions about whether the event benefited his allies and supporters. Minho Kim in the New York Times$ -- 06/16/25

Trump accelerates push to reward loyalty in federal workforce -- Many critics say the administration is scrapping a nonpartisan, merit-based civil service in favor of a biased, politicized system. Meryl Kornfield and Hannah Natanson in the Washington Post$ -- 06/16/25

The Bureaucrat and the Billionaire: Inside DOGE’s Chaotic Takeover of Social Security -- The drama offers a case study in how Elon Musk’s team sought to run a critical government agency through misinformation and social media blasts — and how longtime employees responded. Alexandra Berzon, Nicholas Nehamas and Tara Siegel Bernard in the New York Times$ -- 06/16/25

How Amy Coney Barrett Is Confounding the Right and the Left -- President Trump appointed her to clinch a conservative legal revolution. But soon after arriving at the Supreme Court, she began surprising her colleagues. Jodi Kantor in the New York Times$ -- 06/16/25

US protesters on Trump: ‘He’s shredding our constitution, our government’ -- Demonstrators at the ‘No Kings’ protest across the US tell the Guardian why they took the streets to protest. Andrew Gumbel, Rachel Leingang, Melissa Hellmann, Chris Stein and J Oliver Conroy The Guardian -- 06/16/25