Federal immigration agents arrested six people at a Phoenix immigration court on Tuesday.
According to the Tucson Sentinel, one attorney described the situation as “mayhem,” and clients who thought their cases had been dismissed were arrested.
In January, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a new regulation that reversed its stance on protected zones and courthouse arrests. The initial policy was to limit ICE enforcement in sensitive areas, such as courtrooms, so that people may obtain critical services without fear of incarceration.
Why It Matters
Isaac Ortega, an immigration attorney in Phoenix, stated that officials arrested his client shortly after a court hearing on Tuesday morning.
What To Know
According to Ortega, the authorities wore masks and did not specify which agency they represented, simply presenting themselves as federal officers.
According to Ortega, the agents detained his client and transferred him to a processing center in Phoenix. As of Tuesday evening, it was unknown whether his client would be moved to an immigration detention center in Eloy, Florence, or another site out of state.
A reporter for KTAZ-TV, a Telemundo affiliate in Phoenix, captured video of many federal officials surrounding a lady outside a courthouse. A white van with was spotted nearby. According to the reporter, the family members of a detained woman were advised that she will be deported immediately.
“My client has no criminal history; he entered the U.S. through the CBP program,” Ortega said.
He also stated that his client was prepared for a credible fear interview, the first step in the asylum process, when federal authorities detained him at the court. According to federal law, immigrants have one year from the date they enter the United States to file and prosecute an asylum claim.
According to AZ Central, attorney Eugene Delgado reported seeing his client handcuffed by federal officials during a court session.
As Delgado exited, he noticed agents clad in black in the parking lot, one with a long gun.
Delgado speculated that these arrests could be part of a strategy to increase the amount of ICE detentions, regardless of whether individuals have criminal records—a departure from previous enforcement goals that sought to target “the worst of the worst,” as declared by the Trump administration.
What Happens Next
The Trump administration is expected to continue its strict immigration enforcement policies, which include mass deportations and the revocation of hundreds of thousands of migrants’ temporary legal status.
