Federal agents arrested dozens of migrants outside immigration courts this week, including in Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle, using a new strategy from the Trump administration aimed at accelerating deportations.
How the Arrests Unfolded
At the Miami immigration courthouse, agents waited in plain clothes for migrants to exit their hearings. After judges dismissed cases, federal officers immediately detained individuals—many without criminal records or legal representation.
- Agents handcuffed migrants moments after their court appearances
- Government attorneys moved to dismiss cases, allowing ICE to arrest migrants outside court
- This coordinated action took place in multiple cities across the country
- The Justice Department oversees courts; DHS and ICE carry out arrests
- Migrants seeking asylum and those with no criminal records were among those detained
Community and Legal Reactions
Immigration attorneys warn this new enforcement tactic chills migrants’ willingness to attend court, undermining their legal rights.
- Attorney Wilfredo Allen called the moves “to accelerate detentions and expedite removals”
- Antonio Ramos, a Miami-based lawyer, says migrants fear attending court now, risking detention even when their cases are active
- Families and advocates say arrests at courtrooms betray fairness and due process, turning courts into tools of mass deportation
- A Cuban migrant detained in Miami said his family thought dismissal meant freedom, only to be arrested right after
- Migrants’ relatives and advocates express heartbreak and fear amid the sudden arrests
Ongoing Impact and Unanswered Questions
The Department of Homeland Security defends the arrests as legal and necessary, encouraging migrants to self-deport. However, the community and legal groups question the fairness and humanity of these tactics.
- The Justice Department defers questions to DHS and ICE, who affirm the use of expedited removal authority
- Courts dismiss cases so agents can detain migrants before they can continue their claims
- Legal advocates urge migrants to seek counsel and request virtual hearings to avoid in-person risks
- The long-term effect on migrant communities and due process rights remains uncertain
Information sourced from:
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Associated Press
- Miami Herald