By BRIAN MORENO
The Association of Legal Aid Attorneys and other advocacy groups on Thursday urged the Office of Court Administration and Chief Judge Janet DiFlore to ban Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from collaborating with New York Court staff or entering court property.
The rally was promoted after a rise of ICE presence in courthouses throughout in New York City in the last year, especially in Brooklyn.
A specific incident occurred last week when ICE agents in Brooklyn Criminal Court arrested Genaro Rojas Hernandez, an undocumented immigrant and a client of Legal Aid Society. Attorneys associated with Legal Aid Society stormed out of the courthouse in protest against the presence of ICE agents in the courts.
“We hope to raise awareness around the fact, ICE, are taking community members from court,” said Legal Aid attorney Rage Kidvai. “The community members we’ve seen taken are without criminal records, trying to fight their case, fighting allegations against them. This practice actually makes [immigrants] neighborhoods and community unsafe.”
ICE’s policies do not consider courthouse to be sensitive locations.
Many undocumented immigrants who are victims of violence and hate crimes, witnesses of a crime, accused of crimes, etcetera, shun courthouses because they fear the presence of ICE and possible deportation.
“We cannot allow this president and his agents to disrupt the judicial system, a key pillar to our democracy, said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito of the New York City Council. “Discouraging folks going to court to seek justice greatly undermines our public safety.”
Photo by Brian Moreno
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