ICE Agents Amp Up the Aggression

 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in some parts of the country are using new and more aggressive tactics to target migrants. Lawyers and judges are reporting that for the first time ICE are entering courthouses to question people about their immigration status. When coming to the courthouse to pay fines, file restraining orders, or serve as witnesses, a person's immigration status is irrelevant in the eyes of the law. ICE agents say this is nothing new, but immigration attorneys warn that Trump's executive orders calling for hiring thousands more agents will lead to more arrests and elevate fear within migrant communities. This fear has been heightened by reports of people with no criminal records being arrested. What we could see is an erosion of the judicial system if people are afraid to show up in court. We need a call for the Department of Homeland Security to treat courthouses like the other sensitive areas that ICE avoids, such as hospitals and places of worship. Read the full post from NPR. More on this story.