ICE arrests Colombian asylum-seeker at S.F. court hearing

A Colombian woman was arrested at San Francisco immigration court on Friday after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sought to dismiss her asylum case. Judge Joseph Park rejected the DHS attorney's motion, but ICE agents waited in the hallway to apprehend her, highlighting a pattern of arrests targeting vulnerable asylum-seekers. The woman, dressed in a powder blue button-up, was visibly shaken as she received support from a pro-bono attorney before her detention. This incident follows a violent protest outside the courthouse two days earlier, where ICE agents engaged with demonstrators, resulting in multiple arrests and injuries. Bay Area attorneys remarked that such aggressive tactics against protesters and asylum-seekers have become more common in recent months.

The woman was the only individual arrested among over 30 people scheduled for hearings that morning, emphasizing the risks faced by those without legal representation. The ongoing deportation efforts raise significant concerns about the treatment of asylum-seekers in the immigration system. Local advocates continue to call for reforms to protect vulnerable populations seeking refuge.