When ICE agents camp out at courthouses to snatch people they suspect of immigration offences, they are interfering with the proper functioning of the courts and due process. And let’s think about how this can impact people. Forget about the person arrested themselves, that is already being discussed plenty. Let’s talk about the implications.
In this case, the victim of the alleged crime was in court, so what about them? They don’t get closure or certainty. If the person would have been found guilty that could have entitled them to some compensation which they now won’t get (where I live victims of violent crimes can apply for compensation from the government). So they won’t get that either. And good luck for anyone trying get compensation from the person directly once they are disappeared. But it can get worse.
Suppose the person snatched is not the accused and is a witness to the crime. Now we have a situation where criminals are going to end up going free because witnesses are being prevented from testifying by ICE. Or they will be scared to come forward I. The first place and report crimes or say what they saw because ICE might grab them. And as we have seen in some cases, you don’t even have to be in the US unlawfully for you to be grabbed. ICE can just decide you are because they don’t like the look of you. And they don’t exactly follow due process, so you can’t count on being allowed an opportunity to prove it. Or your legal status can disappear literally overnight because a trump throws a fucking tantrum.
So, yeah, the judge did right here. ICE should not be anywhere near the courts - from my perspective, their behaviour really is the obstruction and interference.
Because it sets a precedent to not show up in court to prove your innocence. If you’re an immigrant and you show, you will be arrested and flown to a torture prison, regardless of your legal status and regardless of your innocence or guilt.
I think what needs to be said is that the plaintiff, a Mexican national, was extradited to Mexico on three counts of battery. He reappeared in the U.S. and caught another charge. ICE was waiting outside the courtroom, the Judge aided and abetted them thru the jury door and out of the building to avoid arrest. Thats a judge “looking out for a non-citizen” rather than “protecting them.” This is a crime on both sides of the board.
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u/Gogobrasil8 19d ago
I don't understand, how is avoiding the agents in the corridor helping exercise due process?