Advocates raise alarm after federal arrests near Rancho Cucamonga courthouse
By Leticia Juarez
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RANCHO CUCAMONGA, California (KABC) — A chaotic scene unfolded outside the Rancho Cucamonga courthouse when federal agents detained multiple men Thursday morning.
Witnesses said one man was in the courthouse parking lot with his son just before 9:30 a.m. when federal agents surrounded and detained him. Two more men were later taken into custody after leaving the courthouse.
The arrests were caught on camera.
Immigrant rights advocates say similar enforcement operations are on the rise.
“This is a state courthouse, as you know, immigration proceedings do not happen at state courthouses but we’re seeing this increasing and really alarming trend of arrests happening either right outside the steps like we’ve seen today or nearby the courthouse,” said Hector Pereyra of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice.
The Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice said Thursday’s arrests bring the total number of people taken into custody at or near the courthouse to 33 since last year.
“It’s kind of arrest now and ask questions later, a practice that they are engaging in right now which is incredibly unlawful,” Pereyra said.
Advocates also warned enforcement actions near courthouses can create fear and raise safety concerns as families, attorneys and members of the public regularly pass through the area.
“The arrests that are happening here could lead to that escalation of violence because federal agents are being trained to escalate not deescalate,” Pereyra said. “It puts everyone at the courthouse in harm’s way.”
ABC7 reached out to the Department of Homeland Security with questions about Thursday’s detentions, including the legal basis for the arrests and whether agents were conducting enforcement operations at the courthouse throughout the day, but did not receive a response.
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