A judge in Boston has ruled that a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent is in contempt of court for detaining a suspect during the individual’s trial.
Last week, ICE agent Brian Sullivan arrested Wilson Martell-Lebron as he exited the courthouse.
However, a judge from the Boston Municipal Court determined on Monday that Sullivan infringed upon Martell-Lebron’s rights to due process and a fair trial by detaining him during the legal proceedings, according to a report by the Associated Press.
“This is a clear violation of a defendant’s right to participate in his trial and to confront the witnesses testifying against him,” stated Judge Mark Summerville from the bench. “The seriousness of this matter cannot be overstated.”
The charge against Martell-Lebron for allegedly providing false information on his driver’s license application—specifically, asserting that he was not Martell-Lebron—was dismissed by Summerville, according to the report. Subsequently, the judge initiated a contempt charge against Sullivan, which could lead Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden to reassess the case and determine if any further charges should be filed.
“This is utterly unacceptable,” stated Ryan Sullivan, one of Martell-Lebron’s attorneys. “It is the responsibility of law enforcement to ensure that justice is served. Similarly, prosecutors are tasked with upholding justice. In my view, there is no greater injustice than the government arresting an individual without proper identification and obstructing their right to a jury trial as guaranteed by the Constitution.”]} }
Judicial authority appears to be exceeding its limits as a Boston judge holds an ICE agent in contempt of court for detaining a man during his trial.
The recent event marks the latest effort by federal immigration agents to target individuals residing illegally in the Boston area. Boston has proclaimed itself a ‘sanctuary city’ for undocumented immigrants, which prohibits local law enforcement from aiding federal immigration authorities.
President Donald Trump’s border enforcement chief, Tom Homan, along with Republican lawmakers, has condemned the city for its lack of cooperation in deporting individuals accused of violent offenses.
Mayor Michelle Wu, a Democrat seeking reelection this year, expressed her desire for Boston to continue being a hospitable environment for immigrants, highlighting that city regulations are intended to restrict collaboration with immigration enforcement, according to the AP. Sullivan recounted a distressing scenario where ICE agents swiftly detained Martell-Lebron without revealing their identities, subsequently placing him in a pickup truck and departing.
The trial had only just commenced, with opening statements and initial witnesses being presented. Sullivan further noted that Martell-Lebron, originally from the Dominican Republic and residing with relatives in Massachusetts, is currently detained at the Plymouth facility for allegedly being an undocumented immigrant, as reported by the AP.
The existing policy permits immigration officials to conduct arrests “in or near courthouses when they possess credible information indicating that the targeted individual(s) is or will be present,” as long as they are not prohibited from doing so by state or local regulations.
During the two-day hearing, Sullivan testified that the primary prosecution witness confirmed that both the Massachusetts State Police and prosecutors were informed of ICE’s intention to arrest Martell-Lebron, according to the AP.
In a statement acquired by the news agency, state police asserted that their actions were justified after being informed of ICE’s plans: In any instance where a member becomes aware of federal immigration enforcement, the Troopers acted appropriately by neither aiding nor hindering the federal operation.