Monica Moreta Galarza was surprised after feeling a sense of relief following 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, which Galarza interpreted as a delay in his potential deportation to Ecuador. However, after leaving the courtroom with their children, immigration officers detained Ortiz López, resulting in Galarza being thrown to the ground. This incident has led to the temporary suspension of one immigration officer and has drawn attention to other similar occurrences at the courthouse.
Attorneys and observers have noted a tense atmosphere during immigration operations at the Federal Plaza. The behavior of officers has reportedly been aggressive, with accounts of families being separated in stressful situations. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that it aims to protect children during detentions and provides options for parents regarding custody of their children.
While many detentions have been quick and without violence, there have been chaotic incidents reported recently. In one occurrence, multiple officers rapidly detained a man as family members struggled to remain together, leading to increased scrutiny of the situation. DHS officials stated that officers had to manage an increasingly chaotic environment due to interactions with press and onlookers.
Over 3,300 immigrants have been detained in New York City under the current administration’s policies, with a significant portion of these arrests originating from 26 Federal Plaza. Legal experts express concern that the current tactics put immigrants in a difficult position where attending court can lead to arrest or deportation. Meanwhile, government representatives assert that their focus is on removing individuals with violent criminal backgrounds from the United States. The case of Ortiz López, who had a history of criminal charges, is cited as justification for the action taken at the courthouse.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0rxrxd444o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss