The Trump administration’s deportation campaign is now targeting U.S. courthouses, pursuing immigrants as they attend required court hearings, at the same time that the Department of Homeland Security has moved to reopen thousands of immigration cases previously deemed “low-priority” and closed, local attorneys say.
Officials detain people outside of a Phoenix immigration court on Wednesday. ICE agents have been ready to immediately detain those whose cases were dismissed at courthouses. “A set-up is really honestly the best way to describe it,” said Phoenix immigration attorney Ben Wiesinger.
Officials detain people outside of a Phoenix immigration court on Wednesday. Immigrants following the rules by attending their court hearings are “low-hanging fruit” for ICE agents, Tucson immigration attorney Luis Campos said.
A crowd of protestors clashes with officials as they detain people after immigration court hearings on Wednesday in Phoenix. The arrests ignore immigrants' right to contest or appeal a case dismissal, and will discourage many from attending court proceedings, said Alba Jaramillo, an organizer with Tucson's Coalición de Derechos Humanos, or Human Rights Coalition.
Contact reporter Emily Bregel at ebregel@tucson.com. On X, formerly Twitter: @EmilyBregel
Rapid Response hotline
To request community support during raids, prolonged stops or interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol, contact the Rapid Response hotline at 520-221-4077.
Para solicitar testigos y presencia comunitaria durante redadas, paradas prolongadas o interacciones con ICE o patrulla fronteriza, comuníquese con la línea de Respuesta Rápida al 520-221-4077.
Know Your Rights
The Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project offers advice for immigrants with ongoing court cases:
1. If you have recently arrived in the U.S. and your immigration court case is dismissed, you are at risk of being arrested and quickly deported. You have the right to oppose the dismissal, and you can ask the judge for more time to explain why you want to continue your case.
2. If the judge dismisses your case, you can appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals. Tell the judge you want to appeal or if you are not sure, you must tell the judge that you want to "reserve your right to appeal."
3. If you fear persecution or torture in your home country, tell the judge at the hearing or tell the immigration agent, if you have been arrested. You have the right to apply for asylum.
4. To learn more about your rights, contact the Florence Project at 520-777-5600 or visit https://firrp.org. If you want someone to accompany you to your court hearing in Tucson, call Coalición de Derechos Humans at 520-221-4077.
Officials detain people outside of a Phoenix immigration court on Wednesday. ICE agents have been ready to immediately detain those whose cases were dismissed at courthouses. “A set-up is really honestly the best way to describe it,” said Phoenix immigration attorney Ben Wiesinger.
Officials detain people outside of a Phoenix immigration court on Wednesday. Immigrants following the rules by attending their court hearings are “low-hanging fruit” for ICE agents, Tucson immigration attorney Luis Campos said.
A crowd of protestors clashes with officials as they detain people after immigration court hearings on Wednesday in Phoenix. The arrests ignore immigrants' right to contest or appeal a case dismissal, and will discourage many from attending court proceedings, said Alba Jaramillo, an organizer with Tucson's Coalición de Derechos Humanos, or Human Rights Coalition.
