Seen at Blue Mass Group:
ICE agents were in the [with held for privacy of reporter] District Court today questioning Defendants who utilized the services of an interpreter. The agents asked for ID and wanted to know how the Defendants came into the country. One person was detained (a female), but my client was released allegedly because there was no bed to house him. This happened inside the Courthouse, but not in the Courtroom. The female was taken to lockup. She was not placed in a cell, but was placed in a chair within the lockup area, which of course is secured.
I consider this very serious development. This could impact access to justice. Women could be afraid to file restraining orders. Witnesses and victimes alike could become afraid to testify. This has not hit the press yet, it is a report directly from the court where it happened, to me and to others who serve the indigent accused community.
Setting aside my issues with our messed-up immigration policy for the moment, I can understand and appreciate the desire to step up enforcement of immigration laws including the use of creative tactics.
However, there are a few places where such creativity and enforcement aren’t appropriate. A court house is one of them, for the reasons AmberPaw mentions.
1 response so far ↓
1 Fred // 5 Nov 2007 at 10:01 am
Let me read this again - the courthouse is no place for justice to be served - is that what I read above? Should someone living, working and operating in this country illegally feel that have the right to use the justice system to their benefit?
Perhaps we can work out an earned-amnesty program - if you testify in a case or successfully turn in another illegal - perhaps they abused you, so you go turn then in - then you yourself get immediate legal status. Otherwise they’re in the state illegally, why would they expect to get free pas swhile walking through the halls of justice?
FYI, I have a bogus warrant for my arrest in a previous home state of mine. I got a speeding ticket for 5 MPH over the week before I moved. I’ve been back and forth with them on addressing the situation, but they responded by issuing a warrant for my arrest (can they do this for a 5 MPH speeding violation?). We recently returned for a wedding - I was not stupid enough to drive in that state in that if I got pulled over for something (legit) I would end up in jail and the car impounded. While in this state, I didn’t feel like I had ‘freedom’ there. If I were accosted while visiting, I would have been hesitant to report is in that I too would be picked up on my (bogus) warrant.
Same deal - once you start living outside of the law, everything changes.
Fred