Justice

A group of law enforcement officers in full riot gear stands in front of a crowd at night, illuminated by bright vehicle headlights behind them. The officers wear camouflage uniforms, helmets with visors, gas masks, and carry batons.

Justice

Federal judge: Continued Border Patrol sweeps in California violated court order

A federal judge rules that the Border Patrol again broke the rules in California immigration sweeps, saying agents acted "without considering or complying with law Congress enacted."

By

Wendy Fry

and

Sergio Olmos

• April 2, 2026

A person wearing a black blazer looks forward as they sit at a wooden desk, surrounded by other people.

Technology

After immigration arrests, California lawmakers wonder: Are police telling the feds too much?

Legislators approved an audit of three of the state’s federally-funded fusion centers, citing concerns about civil liberties and privacy.

By

Khari Johnson

• March 27, 2026

A large detention facility complex sits behind tall chain-link fencing topped with coils of razor wire.

Justice

Why a private company is investigating rapes at an ICE detention center instead of the sheriff

The warden at a privately run immigrant detention center in San Diego County has authority to decide how to investigate rape reports there. A county supervisor wants to revisit the agreement giving that power to CoreCivic.

By

Wendy Fry

and

Nigel Duara

• March 24, 2026

A group of women that are inmates at a prison walk in their blue uniforms down an exterior path. One person is wearing a red shirt. To the left, stands a red brick building with bars on the window and razor wire over the top.

Justice

Digital tablets mellowed California prisons. Now a tech migration is riling users

Every incarcerated person in a California prison has a digital tablet enabling communication with the outside world. A new vendor is bringing more streaming entertainment, but with a cost.

By

Joe Garcia

• March 24, 2026

A surfer stands in shallow ocean water near a rocky shoreline at sunset while an offshore oil platform rises on the horizon in the distance.

Environment

California sues Trump to keep shut oil pipeline on Santa Barbara coast

California is suing the Trump administration over an order to restart a long-shuttered offshore oil operation.

By

Alejandro Lazo

• March 24, 2026

Large red flags with a black eagle emblem ripple in the wind above a crowd gathered outdoors, many wearing red shirts and holding protest signs. Trees and a multi-story building rise in the background under a clear blue sky, situating the demonstration in a civic or campus setting.

Justice

Trump administration acknowledges it needs immigrant farmworkers as it moves to cut their pay

The Trump administration handed down a rule that would cut the minimum wage for immigrants with H-2A visas, including farm workers. The United Farm Workers sued, arguing the change would depress pay to all agricultural employees.

By

Sergio Olmos

and

Wendy Fry

• March 19, 2026

A statue is fully covered in black fabric and plastic sheeting, tied at the base, standing on a paved campus walkway. Behind it, a modern building with large windows and a few people walking by suggests an active public space.

Justice

California is renaming César Chávez’s holiday. Now, cities are slowly erasing his name from streets

California lawmakers say they'll change the name of César Chávez Holiday. Taking his name off of streets and buildings likely will take much longer.

By

Nadia Lathan

and

Nigel Duara

• March 19, 2026

A person with long gray hair speaks into a microphone at an outdoor press conference, their expression focused and serious. Several people stand behind them, including individuals in business attire, while additional microphones and a partially visible sign in the background suggest a media-covered public statement.

Justice

UFW president: ‘We do not condone the actions of César Chávez’

Stunning allegations about California labor icon César Chávez led the organization he co-founded, United Farm Workers, to distance itself from him.

By

Sergio Olmos

and

Wendy Fry

• March 18, 2026

A view of two open prison cells doors inside viewed from the hallway looking in as a prison guard looks around inside the cell on the right. The guard is backlight by light shinning in from a small window towards the back of the cell.

Justice

Newsom closed 5 California prisons. Why lawmakers might want to shut one more

California is incarcerating 70,000 fewer people than in 2010, enabling the Newsom administration to close five state prisons. It has capacity to shut one more, according to a new analysis.

By

Adam Ashton

• March 18, 2026

A graphic titled “Agents of Chaos” shows masked, uniformed men in military-style gear with highlighted faces, alongside logos for CalMatters, Bellingcat and Evident over a map background with lines pointing toward Chicago.

Investigation

Agents of Chaos: Border Patrol’s year of unchecked force

'The first thing that you do when you give an agent a gun and a badge and the authority over American people is to make sure that they follow the Constitution, period.'

By

Sergio Olmos

• March 17, 2026