Introduction to the Incident
An Egyptian man who cried on the stand inside immigration court Wednesday out of fear for his wife and children moments before being cuffed by ICE.
Photo by Dean Moses
He came to immigration court in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday morning, begging a federal judge to help his wife and children facing persecution in his homeland of Egypt – but ICE agents wound up taking him away.
The Court Hearing
The unidentified immigrant, a resident of Jersey City, came to 26 Federal Plaza on Sept. 17 for a court-mandated hearing on his immigration status. Onlookers say the man, who speaks Arabic, understood very little of what was taking place, but urged the judge to assist his wife and children, who are still in Egypt and, according to him, in danger.
“It’s pretty clear he hadn’t understood anything that was said, but certainly not that he’s about to be abducted. And he’s like: ‘Your Honor, I’m terrified for my wife and three daughters who are in Egypt and facing persecution. What can I do to help them? Can someone get me a lawyer to help my kids get them out of danger?’” City Comptroller Brad Lander recalled from watching the proceedings, adding that the judge said she was unable to aid him.
Apprehension by ICE Agents
All the while, masked ICE agents waited outside the door to the courtroom throughout the morning, waiting to apprehend the man.
An Egyptian man cried on the stand inside immigration court Wednesday out of fear for his wife and children moments before being cuffed by ICE.
Photo by Dean Moses
Once the Jersey City man and Egyptian native left the room, federal agents moved in, grabbed him by the arms and led him into a stairwell.
Reactions to the Incident
An attorney, who works in the facility and attempts to brief immigrants on their rights before they are detained, placed his ear to the door of the stairwell after hearing muffled sounds.
“I can hear them scuffling,” the lawyer said.
Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum also witnessed the arrest and called it “absolutely outrageous.”
Once he left the room, he was set upon by the Feds, who grabbed him by the arms and led him into a stairwell.
Photo by Dean Moses
“We have this semblance of a lawful proceeding where there’s a judge and a hearing and the law is followed and the process is described, and then a human being walks out and is abducted by very powerful men with weapons and face masks and whisked away from access to any kind of lawyers or attorney,” Kleinbaum told amNewYork.
Restrictions on Public Observation
According to Kleinbaum and Lander, allowing the public to observe court hearings and ICE detainments has become more difficult.
New Yorkers looking to watch the system unfold are no longer permitted to stand in the hallways and must wait in court waiting rooms, and some courts will only permit two observers at a time.
“The judges are having a hard time with their consciences. If you just sit in the courtroom, it seems like there’s a legal proceeding going on, and they don’t want to look outside the door and know a person who they’ve just granted a hearing or told read their rights under the conventional torture is being abducted by ICE,” Lander said. “Not only are they just walling themselves off from the lawlessness that they’re functionally a part of, but preventing friends of the court from helping people get access.”
This comes after several attorneys told amNewYork that they believe judges are feeling pressure from the federal government to cooperate with ICE out of fear for their jobs.
Conclusion
The incident highlights the complexities and challenges faced by immigrants in the US, particularly those seeking protection from persecution in their home countries. The apprehension of the Egyptian man by ICE agents after a court hearing has raised concerns about the fairness and transparency of the immigration process. The restrictions on public observation of court hearings and ICE detainments have also sparked debate about the need for greater accountability and oversight in the immigration system.
FAQs
Q: What happened to the Egyptian man after the court hearing?
A: He was apprehended by masked ICE agents and led away in handcuffs.
Q: Why was the Egyptian man in court?
A: He was attending a court-mandated hearing on his immigration status.
Q: What did the Egyptian man ask the judge for?
A: He asked the judge to help his wife and children, who are still in Egypt and facing persecution.
Q: What has been the reaction to the incident?
A: The incident has been condemned as “absolutely outrageous” by Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, and has raised concerns about the fairness and transparency of the immigration process.
Q: Are there any restrictions on public observation of court hearings and ICE detainments?
A: Yes, the public is no longer permitted to stand in the hallways and must wait in court waiting rooms, and some courts will only permit two observers at a time.
