ICE in courts: Arrests of immigrants continue at Federal Plaza, leaving children in tears after families separated | amNewYork

"A day after roughing up reporters and hours after the federal government shut down, masked ICE agents continued their seizure operations Wednesday at 26 Federal Plaza which included an emotional family separation that left two children in tears. The detainments came one day after a hectic scuffle inside 26 Federal Plaza that saw masked feds brutally shove press photographers, leaving one journalist hospitalized after suffering a serious injury from a fall."

"Despite the tension and the federal government shutdown, which indefinitely delayed scheduled hearings at immigration courts, business for the federal agents went on. Judges initially did not hold court hearings during the early part of the morning. Immigrants arrived on the 12th floor only to be sent away, and although they did not see a judge, ICE agents waiting outside the court quickly whisked them away. There is no due process, one court observer said."

"Later, however, the courtrooms reopened, but the detainments continued. One man was pulled from his family and rushed down a hallway and out of sight. His two young sons were left howling in sorrow and weeping profusely as their mother guided them away, also crying. Another woman was likewise left in tears at the mere sight of the armed, masked men. Court observers could be seen taking her by the arms and guiding her to court as she dabbed her eyes with a tissue."

Masked ICE agents conducted arrest operations at 26 Federal Plaza amid a federal government shutdown, continuing seizures after a scuffle that left a journalist hospitalized. Some agents expressed sorrow while others blamed the media. Scheduled immigration hearings were initially delayed and immigrants on the 12th floor were sent away, with ICE agents detaining people outside without judicial appearances. Courtrooms later reopened and detainments continued, including a man pulled from his family as his two young sons cried, and a woman overcome with tears at the sight of armed, masked agents.

Read at www.amny.com