The New York Attorney General, Letitia James, announced that her office formally presented a legal presentation urging the United States District Court For the Southern District of New York to prevent ICE from arresting immigrants within the courts.
This procedure defies the policies that allow generalized arrests while men, women and even children attend their legally mandatory judicial audiences.
According to the New York Prosecutor’s Office, For months, Masked ICE agents have been documented stalking in the halls of 26 federal square and 290 Broadway in the low Manhattan, quickly stopping people when leaving the courts.
“The courts are dedicated to the search for justice, not harassment and selective arrests,” said James. “With these cruel and illegal arrests in court, the federal government is using fear as a weapon to relegate immigrants in the shade, separate families and put everyone’s safety at risk. I will not stay with crossed arms while New Yorkers are stripped of their rights and our courts are used for intimidation.”
Therefore, Attorney General James urged the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to block new federal policies authorizing generalized arrests in court of immigration and allow the federal government to abruptly dismiss the cases of immigrants.
James argues that these policies illegally endanger families, undermine public security of all New Yorkers and threaten the integrity of the judicial system.
The prosecutor argues that arresting persons during their appearance to immigration hearings inhibits participation not only in immigration courts, but throughout the judicial system. As a result of this illegal policy, New York immigrants are more likely to fear testifying in state and local courts, requesting orders for protection against their abusers or, in general, participating in crucial judicial hearings.
“This intimidating effect makes it difficult for prosecutors to accounts for criminals and denies victims the possibility of appearing before the court, which undermines the public safety of all New Yorkers, ”he insisted.
The Attorney General James explains that, since these policies prevent immigrants from processing their immigration cases without risking being arrested and deported, they lead them to live in the shadow, where fear prevents families from denouncing crimes, seeking medical attention or accessing other vital services.
“This erosion of trust leaves entire communities more vulnerable to violence, exploitation and risks to public health. When parents are too afraid to take their children to the doctor, communicable diseases spread more easily; When families avoid schools or places of worship, children’s education and community ties are affected, ”he says.
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