by El Reportero wire services
Immigration attorneys in San Francisco are expressing deep concern following a series of rare and controversial arrests carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inside a federal courthouse Tuesday.
At least two individuals were taken into custody by plainclothes ICE agents at the San Francisco federal building. According to a reporter from NBC Bay Area who witnessed the incident, one of the arrests occurred as a Spanish-speaking man exited a courtroom on the fourth floor. Four agents—who did not identify themselves or their agency affiliation—suddenly approached and detained him. The specific grounds for the arrest remain unclear.
Both individuals were later transported from the scene in a Department of Homeland Security vehicle.
In a statement obtained by NBC Bay Area, DHS defended the arrests, stating, “Secretary [Kristi] Noem is ending the previous administration’s catch-and-release policy, which allowed large numbers of undocumented immigrants to remain in the country without proper vetting. This administration is reinstating enforcement of immigration law. If the individuals have a legitimate credible fear claim, they will proceed through the legal process; otherwise, they may face expedited removal.”
Legal advocates present at the courthouse described the arrests as extraordinary and deeply troubling. Immigration attorneys noted that courthouse enforcement actions are generally avoided, especially in locations where individuals are actively engaged in immigration proceedings and awaiting judicial outcomes.
NBC Bay Area’s Michael Bott reported seeing similar plainclothes ICE agents at the courthouse the previous week, which has heightened concern among the legal community.
“Attorneys tell us that immigration courts have historically been considered off-limits for enforcement actions, under the understanding that those appearing have open cases and are not subject to arrest unless a removal order is finalized,” Bott explained.
Separately, KPIX reported last week that immigrant advocacy organizations are raising red flags over what appears to be a growing ICE presence at immigration courts across Northern California. Similar enforcement activity was reportedly observed at federal courthouses in Concord, Sacramento, and San Francisco.
Let me know if you’d like this rewritten in a different style—like more formal, journalistic, or even opinionated. With reports by SFiST
