A federal judge in California has ruled that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can no longer make arrests at immigration courts, citing a lack of rational explanation for the policy change. The judge’s order vacates ICE policies that had removed prior restrictions on civil immigration arrests at immigration courthouses.

Background

The ruling is a significant victory for immigrant rights advocates, who argue that courthouse arrests can discourage immigrants from attending their hearings. Jared Berezin, leader of the activist group Bearing Witness, praised the decision as a win for due process.

However, the federal government has sharply criticized the decision, with an attorney representing the government calling it ‘naked judicial activism.’ Republican strategist Wendy Wakeman argued that the ruling hampers federal law enforcement efforts and that stronger immigration enforcement is necessary.

Implications

The ruling applies specifically to immigration courts and does not prohibit ICE arrests at district courts or other courthouses. The Justice Department has expressed concerns that the order could create safety concerns by forcing immigration arrests to occur outside courthouse settings.

Some advocates are calling for additional limits on ICE enforcement activities, including protections for immigrants at other types of courthouses. Jeromie Whalen, a congressional candidate in Massachusetts, argued that the government should take a more proactive approach to protecting immigrant communities.

Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.