People We Meet: The San Francisco composer who became an immigration court-watcher

"On a recent Thursday morning, Nicholas Weininger waited in a long line of people outside the San Francisco immigration court for a security guard to let him in. At 8 a.m., the guard promptly opened the door. From there, Weininger took the elevator up to the fourth floor of 630 Sansome St. that houses the Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office and the immigration court, where the schedule of hearings is posted for the building's two courtrooms."

"By 8:30 a.m., he was inside the courtroom of Judge Patrick O'Brien, seated to watch the proceedings unfold with a form in his hand to jot down case details. Beside him, two young Colombian women sat nervously, one of them with tears in her eyes. On his other side, a Mexican mother and daughter talked among themselves."

""The main thing we're trying to do in this program is look out for dismissals, " said Weininger, TK AGE, on that Thursday morning. "The dismissal somehow provides an excuse for Immigration Customs and Enforcement to arrest these people and later deport them.""

"Mission Local has tracked these motions to dismiss since late May and has documented 130 arrests at Sansome Street or San Francisco's other immigration court at 100 Montgomery St. Many of those attending court at either building are seeking asylum, meaning they fear persecution in their home countries."

Nicholas Weininger attends San Francisco immigration court hearings weekly as one of nearly 200 people trained by the Bar Association of San Francisco to court-watch. Court watchers record each person's name, nine-digit A-number, address, and whether Department of Homeland Security attorneys make motions to dismiss. The watchers focus on dismissals because dismissals can provide an opportunity for Immigration and Customs and Enforcement to arrest and later deport attendees. Mission Local tracked motions to dismiss since late May and documented 130 arrests at the Sansome Street and 100 Montgomery Street immigration courts. Hearings occur at 630 Sansome St., which houses ICE field offices and two courtrooms.

Read at Mission Local