ICE arrests Colombian asylum-seeker at S.F. court hearing
A Colombian woman was arrested after her immigration hearing in San Francisco on August 22, 2025, marking her as the only detainee among over 30 scheduled cases that morning. The Department of Homeland Security sought to dismiss her asylum case, a tactic increasingly employed that leaves asylum-seekers vulnerable to immediate detention. Judge Joseph Park rejected the dismissal motion, yet ICE agents were set to arrest her as she exited the courtroom. Pro-bono attorney Amanda Maya guided the woman through the process, gathering emergency contact information and preparing her for possible detention. The arrest occurred two days after ICE agents engaged in violent confrontations with protesters outside the courtroom, involving the use of pepper spray and detentions.
This incident highlighted escalating tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in San Francisco. Local attorneys remarked that the arrest of a U. S. citizen during the protests was unprecedented in recent memory. The situation underscores broader concerns about the treatment of asylum-seekers and the legal complexities they face in the U.
S. immigration system.