Friday, May 23, 2025

Media Contacts:
Alex Mensing, California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, alex@ccijustice.org, 415.684.5463
Kimberly Galindo, Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance, kimberly@cocoira.org, 818.268.1413
Kamalpreet Chohan, California Immigration Project, kchohan@calimm.org, 916.241.3002

JOINT PRESS RELEASE: Northern California Immigrant Justice Groups Condemn ICE Presence at Immigration Courts

ICE presence at courts spreads fear, confusion, undermines Constitutional right to due process.

San Francisco, CA – In response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting operations this week inside immigration courts across the country, including in Northern California, local immigrant justice organizations are warning of threats to due process and calling for increased support to defend immigrants. ICE agents have conducted operations this week at the San Francisco, Concord and Sacramento Immigration Court buildings, asking people for their names and identification. ICE attorneys inside the courtrooms are coordinating with ICE agents waiting outside by asking immigration judges to dismiss people’s cases, which could potentially expose them to arrest just moments later. Thus far, ICE has not succeeded in getting cases dismissed in Bay Area immigration courts, and there has been only one arrest at the Concord court.

How Immigrant Justice Groups Are Responding

Community groups, including attorneys and volunteers with immigration court accompaniment programs, were present at Northern California immigration courts when ICE agents were there. They responded to ICE’s presence by informing people of their rights, assisting people in immigration proceedings with opposing ICE motions to dismiss their cases, and monitoring ICE agent activity.

Rights groups are encouraging “power, not panic,” and reminding people in immigration proceedings that they have the right to due process, and can reach out to their local Rapid Response Networks in the event of ICE activity. People can find their local rapid response network by visiting www.ccijustice.org/carrn. People in immigration court proceedings can reach out to local organizations for support and accompaniment. Organizations recommend that people seek legal advice prior to attending their court hearings, and should be aware that missing a court hearing could result in a deportation order.

Statements from Members of Immigrant Justice Groups in Northern California

“We condemn this coordinated campaign of fear-mongering to terrorize immigrants and undermine the constitutional right to due process,” said Ali Saidi, Director of Stand Together Contra Costa. “ICE’s goal is to bypass the legal system and take away the right to seek asylum by intimidating people into missing their court dates, exposing them to rapid deportation. We will continue to work to ensure the rights of our communities are respected.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen something like this happen in court,” said Sergio Jaime Lopez, Community Defender Coordinator with the Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance. “It’s deeply concerning to witness the government use scare tactics in a space where people are supposed to seek protection. At the end of the day, one person didn’t make it back home to his family—and I can’t stop thinking about the human side of that. This country was built on the foundation of rights and due process. On days like this, it feels like those rights don’t exist for everyone, but we’ll continue working to build a world where they do.”

“I am heartbroken at what took place in the corridors of the Concord Immigration Court,” said Cynthia Ashley, a volunteer with the Concord Court Accompaniment Program who was at the Concord Immigration Court on Wednesday, May 21st, when ICE agents were questioning people. Ashley was escorted out of the building by security after she and other volunteers reminded people – including a person who was later detained – of their right to remain silent. “The incident shook me to the core. The ICE agents’ display of force and power, and their disdain for the right this man had been given to plead his case, are beyond comprehension.”

“Due process and access to courts are cornerstones of our system of democracy and civil society,” said Milli Atkinson, Director of the Immigrant Legal Defense Program of the Justice & Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco. “When immigrants are made fearful of going to court, this undermines the right to due process for everyone. In just a few days, we have seen a chilling effect in court, where those who are complying with very complicated legal requirements could be denied their opportunity to present their case and are being threatened with prolonged detention.”

“Our message to our immigrant community members is that you are not alone,” said Sean McMahon Senior Attorney with the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice. “We are doing everything we can to be there at the court to support you. Reach out to local immigration legal services and your fellow community members, prepare yourself, and exercise your rights.”

“ICE’s shameful tactics endanger everyone in the United States by bringing us closer to a fascist police state. If they can target our immigrant communities without due process, they can target any of us,” said Thais Santos, the SFILEN/SFRRN Program Manager with Mission Action.

“We need our local and state elected officials to partner with us to defend our immigrant communities against this unprecedented attack on due process rights. Ramp up funding for community defense, including rapid response networks, immigration legal services, public defender resources and community-based organizing efforts,” said Angela Chan, Assistant Chief Attorney at the San Francisco Public Defender’s office. “Elected officials can also reaffirm and strengthen local and state

Sanctuary laws that prohibit use of our collective resources to carry out the federal government’s unlawful and unconstitutional policies.”

“ICE presence forces people to make a difficult decision between attending their court hearings where ICE might try to arrest them or abandoning their cases,” said Kamalpreet Chohan, Coordinator of the Sacramento Attorney of the Day Program housed at the California Immigration Project. “We will continue to speak out, organize, and share know your rights information because no one should have to face such a decision.

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