Boston Judge Holds ICE Agent in Contempt Over Courthouse Arrest

A Boston judge has held ICE agent Brian Sullivan in contempt for detaining Wilson Martell-Lebron, a Dominican national, while he was on trial for unrelated charges. The judge, Mark Summerville, argued that Sullivan's actions deprived Martell-Lebron of his rights to due process and a fair trial, calling it 'obstruction of justice.' Following the incident, where Sullivan arrested Martell-Lebron immediately after the first day of his trial, Summerville dismissed the charges against the defendant and scheduled an evidentiary hearing for Sullivan and other involved agents. Lawyers for Martell-Lebron described the arrest as 'reprehensible,' emphasizing that it prevented him from exercising his right to a jury trial. The incident has drawn criticism amidst broader tensions between Boston's immigration policies and federal enforcement actions. The situation highlights ongoing debates over sanctuary city policies and immigration enforcement in the U.S.