For a second day, our cameras captured ICE agents taking several people into custody after their immigration hearings.
SAN ANTONIO — It has been a rare sight until now. The federal agency, ICE, waiting in the lobby of Immigration Court and moments after a migrant’s case is dismissed, taking them into custody.
In a video shared with KENS 5, you can see an agent holding a list with pictures on it.
It is a move that was discouraged under the last administration. But on Wednesday, an ICE spokesperson confirmed the arrests are apart of a plan to reverse former President Biden’s so-called catch and release program.
They are now utilizing expedited removals to allow fast track deportations for people who have been in the country for less than two years.
On Wednesday, an ICE spokesperson confirmed dozens were taken into custody near Immigration Court downtown. On Thursday, our cameras captured at least 9 people taken away by agents.
The husband of one migrant told us she had no prior criminal history.
“My daughters are waiting for us at home,” He said. “I’ve got six girls, they depend on us.”
Her attorney, Adela Meraz, said they were told they could not appear in a hearing virtually anymore so they drove down from Austin.
“We were requesting a merits hearing and the judge declined to set a merits hearing because DHS asked for the case to be dismissed and the client to be ordered removed, saying it was not in the government’s interest to hear a full case,” Meraz said.
In many cases, migrants are showing up to their initial hearings before being taken into custody. Another attorney, Bhavani Madisetti-VemiReddy came from Austin as well with her client from Central Africa who is seeking asylum.
She said he was dealing with the same situation. They were under the impression they could appear virtually, but were told that is not the case anymore.
“I feel like we are betraying people here with credible fears,” Madisetti-VemiReddy said. “Just knowing his story, I feel like I let him down.”
These arrests have evoked fear among migrants who have upcoming hearings at immigration court. However, if they do not show up to those hearings, a judge can order them to be deported.