Chu demands answers on rising ICE bond denials
U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (D-Pasadena, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, Alhambra) led 29 members of Congress last week in writing a letter to the Trump administration questioning the rising immigration bond denials and the bond amounts many families can’t afford.
The letter, sent to Homeland Security Secretary Mullin, Attorney General Todd Blanche and Executive Office for Immigration Review Acting Director Owen, cites data showing bond requests more than doubled from 34,845 in 2024 to 80,130 in 2025. The share of requests immigration judges denied rose from about 36% in 2024 to 43% in 2025, and to 55% in the first three months of 2026. The national median bond climbed from $6,000 to $7,500 after Nov. 10, 2025, with the average reaching $9,211.
“Everyone deserves a fair shot at freedom while they fight their case. But under this administration, more people are being denied bond, and those who are granted it are facing amounts their families simply cannot afford,” said Chu.
The trend is sharper at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, which Chu has worked to close for more than a decade. Since November 2025, judges there have denied 57% of bond requests, up from 39%, and the median bond has risen to $10,000.
In one case, a man who had lived in the U.S. for 25 years, held steady work, supported a family and had no criminal record was given a $50,000 bond, according to the letter.
The lawmakers also cited reports that judges must justify bond grants in writing to supervisors, and said records released in response to a public records request were heavily redacted.
“Immigration judges must be free to make decisions based on the facts and the law, not political pressure,” said Chu.
Padilla bill makes telecom cable theft a federal crime
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) introduced a bipartisan bill that would make willfully or maliciously stealing or damaging the copper, fiber and coaxial cables used for phone and internet service a federal crime.
California led the nation last year with more than 6,000 attacks on communications networks and an estimated $252.6 million in losses. Los Angeles alone saw 1,131 attacks, the most of any U.S. city, according to Padilla’s office. Customers often pay for repair costs through higher bills.
“When critical infrastructure is vandalized, communities immediately feel the impacts — emergency phone calls are disrupted, communications networks experience widespread outages, and public safety is put at risk,” said Padilla.
The Combating Critical Infrastructure Vandalism Act would expand an existing federal law covering vandalism of government communications facilities to include privately owned networks, such as broadband systems. It would also penalize attempts and conspiracies to steal or damage cable, while protecting lawful labor activity and excluding equipment inside customers’ homes.
Barragán resolution spotlights Latina pay gap
U.S. Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-San Pedro, Wilmington, Carson, Compton, South Gate, Watts) and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM), chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, introduced a resolution last week recognizing Oct. 8 as Latina Equal Pay Day.
In 2025, Latinas with reported earnings were paid 53 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. Among full-time, year-round workers, the gap was 60 cents on the dollar. The resolution points to barriers that drive the disparity, including a lack of affordable child care and paid family and medical leave, and workplace harassment.
“Latina Equal Pay Day is a reminder that equal work deserves equal pay. It is unacceptable that Latinas continue to face a significant wage gap compared to White, non-Hispanic men, despite decades of progress towards workplace equality,” said Barragán.
More than six decades after the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the resolution reaffirms Congress’ support for closing the gap.
