Arrests

DHS Defends Controversial Courtroom Arrests Amid Class-Action Lawsuit from Immigrant Advocates

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is facing scrutiny after a class-action lawsuit was filed, challenging its practice of arresting immigrants at their court hearings. The lawsuit, lodged in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, claims that this approach undermines rights afforded to individuals under immigration law and the U.S. Constitution. In response to the lawsuit, Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary for public affairs at Homeland Security, defended the arrests, asserting that they provide a safer environment for law enforcement officers. She noted that immigrants appearing in court undergo security screenings, which makes … Read more

Texas Attorney General Unveils Major Arrests in Vote Harvesting Scandal

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the arrest of a judge and several other officials in connection with alleged vote harvesting activities. The arrests stemmed from an investigation into practices aimed at manipulating the electoral process, a serious concern as upcoming elections approach. The indicted individuals include a county judge and several local officials, all accused of engaging in illegal tactics to collect and submit ballots. Paxton characterized these actions as egregious violations of election integrity, emphasizing the importance of protecting the democratic process. Paxton’s office initiated the investigation after reports surfaced suggesting that the … Read more

Tennessee Enacts New Law to Track Sober DUI Arrests After Shocking Investigations Reveal Disturbing Trends

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee has enacted a new law mandating that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) track the number of sober individuals arrested for driving under the influence (DUI), as well as the police agencies involved in those arrests. Governor Bill Lee approved Senate Bill 1166 late last week, a move aimed at addressing concerns over wrongful DUI arrests. Senator Raumesh Akbari, a Democrat from Memphis, sponsored the legislation, which originated from a year-long investigative report that highlighted alarming statistics. That investigation, led by journalist Jeremy Finley, revealed that over 600 people in Tennessee … Read more

Understanding Collateral Arrests: Navigating Rights and Risks for Undocumented Immigrants During ICE Operations

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In recent operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, “collateral arrests” are growing more common. These arrests occur when ICE detains individuals who are not the primary targets of raids but are caught due to their presence at the sites of these operations. Esther Valdes-Clayton, an attorney who specializes in immigration law, highlights that these incidental detentions are frequent during ICE actions, and notably, not all those arrested have prior deportation orders. Collateral arrests bring a host of challenges and fears, particularly given that many of those detained are unsuspecting of any … Read more