A court ruling in California ordered the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to refrain from arresting migrants inside or near immigration courts, a decision aimed at ensuring that individuals can attend their hearings without the fear of being detained.
The measure was explained by lawyer Jordan Wells, who noted that the court order protects those attending immigration proceedings in the courts of San Francisco, Sacramento, and Concord, as reported by Telemundo.
"This means that people can appear before the immigration court without the constant fear that ICE is waiting to arrest them," the lawyer indicated.
According to the ruling, the practice of making arrests in judicial spaces creates an intimidating effect, dissuades migrants from appearing, and affects due legal process.
Organizations advocating for immigrant rights celebrated the decision, believing that courts should be safe spaces where individuals can comply with the law without facing immediate arrests.
During Donald Trump's administration, there have been reports of migrants being arrested after leaving hearings, which has led to protests and denunciations from lawyers and activists who describe these practices as abusive.
The court order applies exclusively to certain courts in California and does not represent a federal policy, so ICE retains the authority to carry out arrests in other contexts and jurisdictions.
Nonetheless, legal experts consider the ruling an important precedent that could be used in other states to challenge immigration arrests in courts.
Meanwhile, lawyers recommend that migrants stay informed, attend their hearings accompanied, and consult with legal advocates about the implications of the measure in each case.
This week the Trump Administration also faced a setback in Illinois, after the Supreme Court rejected the president's request to deploy National Guard troops during immigration operations in the Chicago area.
California and Illinois, under Governors Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker respectively, are the states that have opposed the current U.S. administration's immigration policy the most.
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