HOUSTON – Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are arresting people outside Houston immigration courts.
For the past two weeks, 2 Investigates has been looking into which cases are being targeted for arrest. On Tuesday, 2 Investigates Robert Arnold and the team were there when three people were taken into custody at the immigration court on S. Gessner at the Southwest Freeway.
An immigration attorney, Bianca Santorini, told 2 Investigates two of the men arrested are from Venezuela and one is from Mexico.
Santorini said the individuals were accused of crossing the border illegally but were allowed to remain in the United States while their asylum claims were pending. However, on Tuesday a judge dismissed the government’s case against the men. Santorini said the dismissals were done at the request of federal prosecutors.
(In our video we took on scene, the ICE agent who was detaining one of the immigrants did have on a badge)⬇️
“What we’re seeing is that they’re focusing exclusively on individuals who have been in the United States for less than two years, regardless as to whether those people have already filed their asylum applications, have no criminal history, and have complied with coming to their hearings or not, said Santorini. “What’s happening is that they show up for their court hearing expecting to get their date for their next court hearing or turn in some documents and the government at that point moves to dismiss the case against them.”
On the surface a dismissal may seem like a positive development for those facing deportation. However, when the case is dismissed, the individuals no longer have a legal standing to remain in the US. If the person has been in the US less than two years then they are subject to expedited removal, which allows the federal government to deport a person without going through the immigration court process.
“These individuals should at least be asking the judge what dismissal means? Does it mean that the government can pursue charges against me again? Does this mean that they’re waiting for me outside? And if they’re in disagreement with the decision of the judge, they can always appeal to a higher court, which would be the Board of Immigration Appeals,” said veteran Houston immigration attorney, Raed Gonzalez.
Head of the immigrant rights organization FIEL, Cesar Espinosa said four individuals were arrested by ICE Monday at the court on S. Gessner.
“Most of these folks, yes, they may have come in illegally, but at the end of the day, they’re not a threat,” said Espinosa. “Otherwise, ICE and the prosecutors would go ahead and detain them and deport them for that reason, not just for the dismissal.”
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A statement from the US Dept. of Homeland Security reads it is revoking the parole granted to those caught illegally crossing the border during the last two years of President Joe Biden administration.
DHS released a statement on arrests at immigration courts:
“Secretary Noem is reversing Biden’s catch and release policy that allowed millions of unvetted illegal aliens to be let loose on American streets. This Administration is once again implementing the rule of law.
“Most aliens who illegally entered the United States within the past two years are subject to expedited removals. Biden ignored this legal fact and chose to release millions of illegal aliens, including violent criminals, into the country with a notice to appear before an immigration judge. ICE is now following the law and placing these illegal aliens in expedited removal, as they always should have been.
ICE released the following statement on this issue:
“Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials throughout the country routinely engage in enforcement activity at or near courthouses for both criminal and civil matters. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s activities at or near courthouses is wholly consistent with this longstanding law enforcement practice.
“ICE officers and agents seek to conduct enforcement actions at an alternate location when practicable, however when no other location is feasible or when the alternate location increases the risk to public safety or the safety of our officers, ICE will seek to effectuate the arrest in the location that is least likely to endanger anyone’s safety.”
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