In an incident that has sparked outcry from immigrant advocates, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained at least one individual outside a Houston immigration court, including a person whose case had just been dismissed.
FIEL, an immigrant advocacy group, confirmed the presence of ICE agents inside the South Gessner Road courthouse. Cesar Espinosa, Executive Director of FIEL, said, "We have gone inside, and I can confirm ICE agents are inside waiting for people right outside of the master hearing, and near the elevators," as reported by FOX 26 Houston. Witnesses described the scene as federal agents detained immigrants as they were getting off the elevator following their immigration hearings.
On the day of the arrests, one man from Ecuador had his case dismissed in court, indicating the government no longer intended to prosecute. Despite this dismissal, as the man exited the courtroom, ICE agents apprehended him near the elevators, as recounted by immigration attorney Bianca Santorini in a statement obtained by FOX 26 Houston. Santorini emphasized the constitutional guarantee of due process, stating, "Due process does not mean you come here illegally and get to stay." She added, "But it does mean you get that one day in court. That is what we're asking to be respected by this administration."
"This is unjust. This is unfair. This is anti-democratic for the court system to say now you don't have any case we will no longer prosecute you. And for us to be sitting right outside, waiting for these folks is inhumane," Espinosa stated after the detainment, as noted by KHOU 11 News. Advocates argue that this pattern of enforcement undermines the effectiveness of the court system and discourages immigrants from participating in legal proceedings.
According to advocates, ICE officials were not in uniform and the family of the detained individual was not informed of his whereabouts. Julia, a spokesperson for the family of Oscar, a Cuban immigrant who had been detained, conveyed the family's frustration to KHOU 11 News, "Es una frustracion muy grande, una frustracion muy grande," and added, "Le pedimos por favor, digame para donde va el. Somos su familia, queremos saber. El no es un criminal," indicating their concern for their loved one who they insist is not a criminal.
In response to these events, ICE provided a statement, which read, "Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials throughout the country routinely engage in enforcement activity at or near courthouses for both criminal and civil matters. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s activities at or near courthouses is wholly consistent with this longstanding law enforcement practice." The agency asserts that they conduct these actions at courthouses when other alternatives are not viable or would increase risk to public safety or the safety of their officers, as per a report by FOX 26 Houston.
