Tag Archives: Pedro Camacho

Latin Times: ICE Arrests Migrant Deemed Mentally Impaired by Judge as He Exits Immigration Court: ‘He’s Clearly Not Understanding the Questions’

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Judge O’Brien had granted the man more time for the man to find legal representation but he was detained by ICE agents a few minutes afterwards

A migrant man whose mental competence was questioned in open court was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers moments after his immigration hearing in San Francisco on Thursday. Law enforcement proceeded despite a judge’s explicit concerns about his ability to participate in legal proceedings.

The man, who was only fluent in Mam, a Mayan language primarily spoken in Guatemala, muttered to himself throughout the hearing and was unable to answer basic questions from Immigration Judge Patrick O’Brien, including his home address.

“It’s obvious to me that there are competency issues,” said O’Brien, as Mother Jones reports. O’Brien added that the man appeared confused even after a Mam interpreter was eventually located to assist. “He’s clearly not understanding the questions.”

O’Brien denied a Department of Homeland Security attorney’s initial request to dismiss the man’s case, a move that could have led to expedited removal, and instead granted a continuance, allowing more time for the man to find legal representation. Still, within minutes of leaving the courtroom at 630 Sansome Street, he was arrested by ICE agents, one of at least three arrests that morning witnessed by reporters.

Over the past several weeks, more than 30 immigrants have been arrested by ICE at or just outside San Francisco’s immigration courts, even when judges have not approved dismissals or deportation orders, as Mother Jones also reported earlier this week.

On Thursday, two women also had their cases dismissed or delayed by DHS motions and were arrested as they exited their hearings. O’Brien warned one of them, “I am pretty sure you won’t be coming back to my court,” and advised both to seek legal help quickly. Both women began crying during their hearings. One said through an interpreter, “How am I supposed to respond to this motion if I don’t understand it?”

The arrests occurred in the absence of court-appointed attorneys, leaving legal advocacy groups scrambling to respond after the fact. Attorneys with the “Attorney of the Day” program, who typically monitor proceedings and alert legal networks, were not present that morning.

The piece comes days after a new report from Disability Rights California, which documents deteriorating conditions for disabled immigrants inside California’s Adelanto Detention Center, including insufficient access to medication, food, clean clothing, and communication with family. “Many had never experienced incarceration before,” the report notes. “They felt overwhelmed and terrified.”

ICE is now preying on vulnerable people without attorneys whose cases are continued. This is beyond disgusting.

ICE Arrests Migrant Deemed Mentally Impaired by Judge as He Exits Immigration Court: ‘He’s Clearly Not Understanding the Questions’
A migrant man whose mental competence was questioned in open court was arrested by ICE officers moments after his immigration hearing in San Francisco.

https://www.latintimes.com/ice-arrests-migrant-deemed-mentally-impaired-judge-he-exits-immigration-court-hes-clearly-not-587576

Latin Times: ICE Releases Deaf Mongolian Asylum Seeker Held Without Interpreter For Months

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“How can he meaningfully participate if he doesn’t know what’s being said and he cannot communicate?” said a judge about the case back on July 9

A deaf Mongolian asylum seeker detained for months in Southern California without access to a Mongolian Sign Language interpreter has been released from federal immigration custody, his family confirmed to local media.

The man, identified as “Avirmed” at his family’s request due to concerns of retaliation by the Mongolian government, had been held at the Otay Mesa Detention Center since February.

His release came after a federal judge ruled that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) violated his civil rights by failing to provide an interpreter, thereby preventing him from meaningfully participating in his asylum proceedings, as Cal Matters reports.

Judge Dana Sabraw of the U.S. Southern District of California ordered ICE on July 9 to provide Avirmed with a Mongolian Sign Language interpreter and redo two key assessments—the first evaluating his mental health, the second assessing whether he has a credible fear of returning to Mongolia.

“How can he meaningfully participate if he doesn’t know what’s being said and he cannot communicate?” Sabraw asked Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Dimbleby at the time, to which Dimbleby answered that many people don’t fully understand the legal proceedings in immigration court.

ICE Releases Deaf Mongolian Asylum Seeker Held Without Interpreter For Months
“How can he meaningfully participate if he doesn’t know what’s being said and he cannot communicate?” said a judge about the case back on July 9

https://www.latintimes.com/ice-releases-deaf-mongolian-asylum-seeker-held-without-interpreter-months-587393

Latin Times: Florida Arrested Two Migrants Under a Law That a Federal Judge Had Already Blocked

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According to reporting by The Marshall Project and the Tampa Bay Times, at least 27 people have been arrested under the law since the injunction.

At least two people were charged under Florida’s immigration law after a federal judge had issued an order halting its enforcement.

The law, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in February, made it a first-degree misdemeanor for undocumented individuals to enter Florida after living in another U.S. state. In April, however, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued an injunction blocking enforcement of the law, citing likely constitutional violations.

Despite that ruling deputies in St. Johns County arrested two men in late May — one with an active federal immigration detainer — on charges of illegal entry. Prosecutors later dismissed or vacated the charges.

These arrests occurred more than a month after the judge’s order and were disclosed in Uthmeier’s biweekly report, a sanction imposed by Williams after she found him in civil contempt. Uthmeier said in his July report that he only became aware of the two cases at the end of June after requesting information from state and local law enforcement.

According to reporting by The Marshall Project and the Tampa Bay Times, at least 27 people have been arrested under the law since the injunction. In some cases, individuals were detained after minor traffic infractions. One U.S. citizen was reportedly arrested as a passenger in a speeding car.

After Judge Williams issued her original order, Uthmeier sent a memo to state and local law enforcement officers telling them to refrain from enforcing the law, even though he disagreed with the injunction. But five days later, he sent a memo saying the judge was legally wrong and that he couldn’t prevent police officers and deputies from enforcing the law, as the Associated Press points out.

Uthmeier also publicly the law in social media. In a June 17 post he wrote of the ruling:

“If being held in contempt is what it costs to defend the rule of law and stand firmly behind President Trump’s agenda on illegal immigration, so be it”

James Uthmeier = dumb fucking fool! It never ceases to amaze me that some of these idiots could pass a high school civics class, let alone graduate from law school.

Florida Arrested Two Migrants Under a Law That a Federal Judge Had Already Blocked
According to reporting by The Marshall Project and the Tampa Bay Times, at least 27 people have been arrested under the law since the injunction

https://www.latintimes.com/florida-arrested-two-migrants-under-law-that-federal-judge-had-already-blocked-586976

Latin Times: U.S. Food System in Peril as Deportation Policies Spark Exodus of Undocumented Workers From Industry: Report

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Immigrants make up about 20% of the entire food sector workforce—some 14 million people—including 27% of agricultural workers and 33% of meatpackers

A growing labor shortage triggered by increased immigration enforcement is threatening the stability of the U.S. food system, according to a report by The Guardian. As undocumented workers leave jobs or avoid public life out of fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, disruptions are mounting from farms to restaurants nationwide.

In Texas, farmers contacted by the news outlet report that longtime laborers are staying home, fearing arrest and deportation, while in Los Angeles, restaurants and food trucks are shutting down as kitchen and service staff disappear.

“They are scared, there are fewer opportunities, and they are no longer prospering here,” said Elizabeth Rodriguez, director of farm worker advocacy at the National Farm Worker Ministry to The Guardian. “Their fear will soon be seen in the harvest, when the quantities of produce are depleted.”

Immigrants make up about 20% of the entire food sector workforce—some 14 million people—including 27% of agricultural workers and 33% of meatpackers. In restaurants, nearly half of all chefs and nearly a third of cooks are foreign-born, most commonly from Mexico, China, Guatemala, and El Salvador.

“These workers are the backbone of the food chain,” said Mark Lauritsen, a vice president at the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. “Without a stable, skilled workforce, safety and quality can decline, shelves can sit empty and grocery prices could rise even more.”

These jobs are often low-paid and physically demanding. Farmworkers are frequently paid per box of produce, working long hours in extreme heat with limited protections. Nearly half of the most strenuous food industry jobs are filled by undocumented workers.

Amid mounting criticism, officials have suggested the administration is considering exceptions for certain sectors. Tom Homan, White House border advisor, recently confirmed that discussions are underway about policy adjustments for farm and hospitality workers.

President Trump, on his part, has proposed allowing farmers to vouch for migrant workers to avoid deportation.”If a farmer is willing to vouch for these people… I think we’re going to have to just say that’s going to be good,” he recently said at an event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds

U.S. Food System in Peril as Deportation Policies Spark Exodus of Undocumented Workers From Industry: Report
Immigrants make up about 20% of the entire food sector workforce—some 14 million people—including 27% of agricultural workers and 33% of meatpackers

https://www.latintimes.com/us-food-system-peril-deportation-policies-spark-exodus-undocumented-workers-industry-report-587105

Latin Times: ICE Pushes Landlords for Tenant Records as Trump Admin Ramps Up Deportation Efforts

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Homeland Security’s Tricia McLaughlin defended the practice, stating that ICE has authority to issue administrative subpoenas and warned of potential legal penalties for noncompliance

Federal immigration authorities are requesting tenant information from landlords as part of a broader enforcement strategy under President Donald Trump‘s immigration crackdown.

Real estate attorney Eric Teusink, based in Atlanta and consulted by The Associated Press, said several of his clients have recently received administrative subpoenas seeking complete rental files for specific tenants.

The two-page forms, reviewed by the outlet and issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) fraud detection unit, request lease agreements, rental applications, identification documents, forwarding addresses, and information on cohabitants. These subpoenas are not signed by a judge, raising legal concerns among landlords and attorneys.

“It seemed like they were on a fishing expedition,” Teusink told the Associated Press. After consulting with immigration attorneys, he concluded that without judicial authorization, compliance is voluntary.

Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin defended the practice, saying that ICE and other immigration agencies have authority to issue administrative subpoenas and warned of potential legal penalties for noncompliance:

“We are not going to comment on law enforcement’s tactics surrounding ongoing investigations. However, it is false to say that subpoenas from ICE can simply be ignored. ICE is authorized to obtain records or testimony through specific administrative subpoena authorities. Failure to comply with an ICE-issued administrative subpoena may result in serious legal penalties. The media needs to stop spreading these lies”

Legal experts warn that landlords who respond to such requests may be violating federal housing laws. Stacy Seicshnaydre, a housing law professor at Tulane University, cautioned against what she called “overcompliance,” especially since many tenants are unaware their information may be turned over to federal authorities. “Just because a landlord gets a subpoena, doesn’t mean it’s a legitimate request,” she added.

This development comes as the Trump administration accelerates immigration enforcement efforts across multiple fronts. Earlier this week, acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons issued a directive requiring the detention of undocumented immigrants for the entirety of their removal proceedings, eliminating bond hearings in most cases. Release will be allowed only under exceptional circumstances at the discretion of ICE officers.

ICE is under internal pressure to dramatically increase arrest numbers. Trump’s border czar Tom Homan last week called for 7,000 arrests per day — more than double the already elevated goal set by top White House officials:

“We have to arrest 7,000 every single day for the remainder of this administration just to catch the ones Biden released into the nation. And for those that say 3,000 a day is too much, I want to remind them: do the math.”

No landlord in his right mind would honor such request. If it’s not signed by a judge, chuck it in the trash!!!

Compliance may result in your tenants being snatched, detained, and deported, causing not only loss of rents but perhaps also resulting in evictions of remaining family members and roommates who can’t afford the rent on their own.

There is no “win” for the landlords here.

ICE Pushes Landlords for Tenant Records as Trump Admin Ramps Up Deportation Efforts
Homeland Security’s Tricia McLaughlin defended requesting tenant records, stating that ICE has authority to issue administrative subpoenas and warned of potential legal penalties for noncompliance

https://www.latintimes.com/ice-pushes-landlords-tenant-records-trump-admin-ramps-deportation-efforts-586867

Latin Times: Street Arrests of Immigrants Without Criminal History by ICE Have Soared 1,100% Since 2017: Study

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The report also found that during recent raids in Los Angeles 72% of ICE arrestees in the area had no criminal convictions, and 59% had no criminal history or pending charges

A new report has revealed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is arresting noncriminal immigrants on the streets at historically high rates, with arrests of such individuals soaring by nearly 1,100% since 2017.

Citing newly released nonpublic data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by DeportationData.org, the Cato Institute reports that by early June 2025, ICE agents were arresting nearly 3,800 non-criminal immigrants per week outside of custodial settings—such as homes, workplaces, and public spaces—compared to 308 per week during the same period in 2017.

Overall, nearly 5,000 weekly “at-large” ICE arrests were being made in early June, up from 856 in June 2017. Of those, 79% targeted individuals with no criminal convictions. The data analyzed by Cato also indicates that 47% of ICE arrestees during the week of June 1–9 had neither a conviction nor any pending criminal charges.

Street Arrests of Immigrants Without Criminal History by ICE Have Soared 1,100% Since 2017: Study
ICE is arresting noncriminal immigrants on the streets at historically high rates, with arrests of such individuals soaring by nearly 1,100% since 2017.

https://www.latintimes.com/street-arrests-immigrants-without-criminal-history-ice-have-soared-1100-since-2017-study-585593

LatinTimes: Fewer Than 1 in 10 Immigrants Detained by ICE Since October Had Convictions for Serious Offenses, Data Shows

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Furthermore, over 75% had no criminal convictions other than immigration or traffic-related offenses

Internal government data shows that fewer than 1 in 10 of the more than 185,000 immigrants booked into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since October 2024 were convicted of serious crimes such as murder, assault, robbery, or rape, according to a new report. Furthermore, over 75% had no criminal convictions other than immigration or traffic-related offenses, CNN reported.

The data, covering detentions during the final months of the Biden administration and the early months of the Trump administration, contrasts sharply with the current administration’s public messaging, as Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials and President Donald Trump have repeatedly emphasized the arrest of immigrants with violent criminal records.

In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security challenged CNN’s referenced data limited to ICE arrests in a shorter timeframe. “ICE targets the worst of the worst—including gang members, murderers, and rapists,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “In President Trump’s first 100 days, 75% of ICE arrests were criminal illegal aliens with convictions or pending charges.”

A CNN review of ICE press releases in the past month found that nearly two-thirds of named individuals were described as having serious criminal records. However, advocates and local reports in cities like Los Angeles describe widespread arrests of longtime residents and workers with no criminal history.

“We are seeing huge amounts of people with no prior contact with the criminal or immigration system picked up,” said Eva Bitran of the ACLU of Southern California to CNN. “It is very contrary to the story that the secretary is telling.”

“The secretary” is a lying bitch, always has been and is unlikely ever to change.

Fewer Than 1 in 10 Immigrants Detained by ICE Since October Had Convictions for Serious Offenses, Data Shows
Fewer than 1 in 10 of the more than 185,000 immigrants booked into ICE custody since October 2024 were convicted of serious crimes, according to a new report

https://www.latintimes.com/fewer-1-10-immigrants-detained-ice-since-october-had-convictions-serious-offenses-data-shows-585081

Latin Times: Undocumented Florida Woman Fined $1.82 Million by ICE for 20-Year Overstay

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An undocumented Honduran woman living in Florida has been fined over $1.82 million by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for failing to depart the country following a 2005 removal order.

The fine, issued in a May 9 notice by ICE’s civil fines department, charged the woman $500 for each day she remained in the United States since the order was issued, totaling $1,821,350. The woman, a mother of three U.S.-born children, is being represented by immigration attorney Michelle Sanchez, who said this is the first time she has seen such a high civil penalty imposed.

“This is ICE terrorizing individuals without even having to go pick them up,” Sanchez told CBS News. “They are terrorizing them by sending these notices where they are fining individuals an exorbitant amount of money that a person sometimes doesn’t even make that amount in their lifetime.”

Undocumented Florida Woman Fined $1.82 Million by ICE for 20-Year Overstay
A 41-year-old undocumented Honduran woman living in Florida has been fined $1.82 million by ICE for failing to leave the country following a 2005 removal order

https://www.latintimes.com/undocumented-florida-woman-fined-182-million-ice-20-year-overstay-583222

Latin Times: Stephen Miller Suggests U.S. Citizens Should Get Reparations for ‘Damages Inflicted by Mass Migration’

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Meanwhile Stephen Miller, winner of the Trump administration’s Joseph Goebbels’ Look-Alike Contest, is having a delusional moment:

Stephen Miller, President Trump‘s Deputy Chief of Staff, said that U.S. citizens are owed reparations for “damages inflicted by mass migration.”

…

Miller rejected the idea of any compensation for the Abrego Garcia case, saying that the real victims are American citizens affected by the influx of unlawful immigrants into the country:

“Where does our whole country go to get repaid for all of the wealth, all of the prosperity and security that has been stolen from us by decades of uncontrolled, illegal mass migration? We all deserve reparations for what has been stolen from us”

Miller went on to link immigration to a broad range of societal issues, including school performance, crime, and drug overdoses, though he offered no data to support the connections.

“We used to have a functioning public school system in this country,” Miller claimed. “Then we had open borders. Nobody’s learning how to read or write. An entire generation of Americans—multiple generations, in fact—have been robbed of educational opportunities.”

Stephen Miller Suggests U.S. Citizens Should Get Reparations for ‘Damages Inflicted by Mass Migration’
Stephen Miller, President Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff, said U.S. citizens are owed reparations for “damages inflicted by mass migration.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/stephen-miller-suggests-u-s-citizens-should-get-reparations-for-damages-inflicted-by-mass-migration/ar-AA1Dli5Z