Dozens Arrested During ICE Protests at Multiple U.S. Immigration Courts

Recent protests and outcry have erupted across several U.S. cities, including Manhattan, Sacramento, and San Francisco, in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests of migrants at or near immigration court buildings. Activists and immigrant rights groups condemn these arrests as unconstitutional and a tactic of intimidation, noting that many detained individuals were lawfully attending their court hearings or had pending cases with judges granting them additional time. In Manhattan, over 20 protesters were arrested after attempting to block vans believed to be transporting detainees, while in San Francisco and Concord, multiple migrants were detained despite attending court, sparking rallies against ICE operations around courts. Legal advocates emphasize that these arrests undermine due process and the rule of law, with some detainees being sent far from their communities, and call for sanctuary city protections to keep families together and preserve immigrants' rights. Officials like San Francisco's District Attorney Brooke Jenkins have been engaged in efforts to uphold sanctuary policies amid these tensions. The Department of Homeland Security has not provided detailed responses on the detentions, further fueling concerns among immigrant advocates.