With the Trump administration pushing for speedier deportations and hard-line immigration enforcement, California officials have tried to ensure that state courthouses, schools and hospitals remain “safe zones” so that witnesses and crime victims, among others, won’t be afraid to come forward. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials maintain that making arrests in court is preferable because it provides a secure environment, where there’s no risk their target will be armed. ICE officials place the blame for more frequent arrests in courthouses on the policy meant to stop that from happening: California’s “sanctuary” law, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Yovanny Ontiveros-Cebreros arrived at the Sacramento courthouse last week expecting to plead not guilty to felony drug charges and be allowed to go home. Instead, an immigration agent approached the 38-year-old after his arraignment and put him in handcuffs, saying he was wanted for unlawful reentry into the U.S. While Ontiveros-Cebreros faced serious criminal charges, his arrest reignited protests from immigrant advocates as well as some judges. California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who has emerged as a leading critic of ICE’s courtroom presence, said the arrests were “disruptive, shortsighted, and counterproductive.… It is damaging to community safety and disrespects the state court system.” The Sacramento arrest is expected to add urgency to a bill by state Sen. Ricardo Lara that would prohibit federal immigration agents from entering schools, courthouses and state buildings to arrest or question people without a warrant. ICE does not track arrests by location and it is unclear just how many have taken place inside courthouses. Immigration officials argue that California’s sanctuary law aimed at protecting immigrants in the state illegally has already made it harder for them to arrest detainees at county jails, forcing them into places like courthouses.