Monica Moreta Galarza felt relieved after her husband's routine immigration hearing at New York City's 26 Federal Plaza. A judge had ordered Rubén Abelardo Ortiz López to return to court in May, and she believed that meant a reprieve from his potential deportation to Ecuador. Instead, as soon as they stepped out of the courtroom with their children, she was torn from her husband's arms and thrown to the ground by immigration officers as they detained him. One of them charged at me so aggressively that I was terrified, and he ended up throwing me to the ground, Ms Moreta Galarza told BBC News Mundo in Spanish. They treated us like animals.
The incident, which has since gone viral, led to one immigration agent being temporarily suspended but is not isolated. Reports detail similar aggressive encounters at the courthouse, fueling public outrage. ICE's operations have fostered a tense atmosphere inside the building, where legal representatives describe the experience as traumatic for the families involved. It's traumatic for the clients we're serving, for the families getting ripped apart, said Allison Cutler, an attorney from NYLAG.
While most detentions are initiated with little violence, chaotic scenes have been prevalent. Reports of federal agents clashing with families and even journalists have surfaced, raising questions about the standards and rules governing immigration enforcement.
The Department of Homeland Security maintains its stance that such measures are necessary for public safety and efficiency in enforcement. However, many immigrants are now hesitating to attend their court hearings for fear of being detained and facing immediate deportation.
With many immigrants not holding previous criminal records being caught in the dragnet, the current administration's approach has drawn ire from legal experts. There used to be a concentrated effort on those who might have had criminal histories or prior arrests, said Triciah Claxton from Safe Passage, indicating a broadening of the criteria used for detentions.
As the nation grapples with complex immigration issues, these stories highlight the human toll borne by policies framed in terms of law and order.
The incident, which has since gone viral, led to one immigration agent being temporarily suspended but is not isolated. Reports detail similar aggressive encounters at the courthouse, fueling public outrage. ICE's operations have fostered a tense atmosphere inside the building, where legal representatives describe the experience as traumatic for the families involved. It's traumatic for the clients we're serving, for the families getting ripped apart, said Allison Cutler, an attorney from NYLAG.
While most detentions are initiated with little violence, chaotic scenes have been prevalent. Reports of federal agents clashing with families and even journalists have surfaced, raising questions about the standards and rules governing immigration enforcement.
The Department of Homeland Security maintains its stance that such measures are necessary for public safety and efficiency in enforcement. However, many immigrants are now hesitating to attend their court hearings for fear of being detained and facing immediate deportation.
With many immigrants not holding previous criminal records being caught in the dragnet, the current administration's approach has drawn ire from legal experts. There used to be a concentrated effort on those who might have had criminal histories or prior arrests, said Triciah Claxton from Safe Passage, indicating a broadening of the criteria used for detentions.
As the nation grapples with complex immigration issues, these stories highlight the human toll borne by policies framed in terms of law and order.
