"Since May, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been handcuffing asylum seekers and others in the halls of immigration courthouses and at required check-ins with ICE, resulting in more than 100 arrests in Northern and Central California. Many of those arrested had previously been granted conditional release and allowed to remain out of custody, typically after border agents had determined they were not dangerous and would show up for their hearings."
"and called the actions arbitrary and illegal. "Just imagine if the government changed a [policy] and all of a sudden you could be thrown in jail at any time. Imagine how that would harm you. That's how it harms our clients," said Bree Bernwanger, a senior staff attorney for the ACLU of Northern California, who is representing plaintiffs in the lawsuit challenging rearrests."
Since May, ICE has conducted courthouse and check-in arrests of asylum seekers and others, resulting in over 100 arrests in Northern and Central California. Many arrested individuals had previously been granted conditional release after border agents deemed them non-dangerous and likely to attend hearings. Lawyers argue that both courthouse arrests and rearrests of previously released people were unprecedented before this year and characterize the actions as arbitrary and illegal. Courthouse arrests interfere with immigrants' ability to defend themselves, and failing to appear results in deportation in absentia. Plaintiffs have asked Judge Pitts to halt the arrests while cases proceed. The government says ICE has authority to arrest where it deems fit and that new policies reflect elected priorities; ICE acknowledged courthouse operations in late May.
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