Federal immigration agents detained a person at a courthouse in southwest Houston, according to advocates and legal witnesses.
HOUSTON — Federal immigration agents were observed detaining at least one person at a federal courthouse in southwest Houston, according to immigration advocates and attorneys who witnessed the incident Monday. The reported detention occurred as the person was getting off an elevator following an immigration hearing, prompting supporters to gather outside the building in protest.
FIEL, an immigrant advocacy organization, and an immigration attorney confirmed they saw several federal agents in the courthouse hallway during the detention.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not confirm specific arrests but said law enforcement action at or near the courthouse was routine.
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FIEL’s supporters have been demonstrating outside the federal building for several hours in response to what they describe as the targeting of people attending court proceedings.
“This is unjust. This is unfair. This is anti-democratic for the court system to say now you don’t have any case we will no longer prosecute you. And for us to be sitting right outside, waiting for these folks is inhumane,” said Cesar Espinoza from FIEL.
The Houston incident appears to be part of a broader pattern of similar enforcement actions at immigration hearings across Texas and other states. Comparable raids at immigration hearings have been reported in San Antonio, while unrest has grown in California over people being detained in similar circumstances.
Immigration supporters expressed frustration that individuals who are “trying to do the right thing” by attending their scheduled court hearings are not being granted due process. The advocates argue that people following legal procedures should not face detention when appearing for their immigration cases.
Cameras were not permitted inside the federal courthouse due to security restrictions.
The Department of Homeland Security provided a statement in response to inquiries about the enforcement actions, though the full content of their response was not included in the available information.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions between immigration enforcement efforts and advocates who argue that current practices discourage immigrants from participating in legal proceedings and undermine the court system’s effectiveness.
A spokesperson for ICE shared a statement that read:
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.
A senior Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said:
“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.
If they have a valid credible fear claim, they will continue in immigration proceedings, but if no valid claim is found, aliens will be subject to a swift deportation.”
This is a developing story. We’ll add more details as we learn them.