Two men handcuffed at Sacramento Immigration Court, taken to ICE office
At least two more men who were attending hearings at Sacramento Immigration Court were handcuffed and detained Wednesday morning.
The detentions occurred while more than eight men in plainclothes, who appeared to be federal authorities, were stationed around different floors of the courthouse. The presence was much larger than when officials detained an immigrant last week and appeared to be a continuation of the new and controversial practice that has troubled attorneys, angered activists and increased fears for immigrants.
Some were asked if they were from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. One, who was involved in last week’s arrest, deflected and said he was waiting for an attorney while standing by an elevator on the first floor where the ICE office is located. He later went to the fourth floor, where court proceedings take place. He was overheard using a radio to ask if he was able to leave where he was stationed.
A volunteer with the activist organization NorCal Resist, who did not want to be identified, said one man who was detained was seeking asylum. He was handcuffed in a hallway after just leaving his hearing. He is from Venezuela, according to court records.
The actions followed others in recent weeks at Sacramento and at immigration courts across the country.
The Sacramento Bee reached out to ICE and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to confirm the role of the officers in plainclothes, but did not hear back immediately.
This story was originally published June 11, 2025 at 12:15 PM.
