A disturbing video has emerged from the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building in San Diego, California, capturing what witnesses are calling an ambush by ICE agents targeting immigrants as they exited their court hearings. These are legal proceedings that they were required to attend.
The 26-second clip shows plainclothes ICE officers surrounding a man in the narrow corridor just outside an immigration courtroom. Chaos erupts as another man tries to intervene on behalf of the detainee, only to be aggressively shoved aside by agents. That second man, a volunteer with an immigrant rights group, was then handcuffed and arrested himself.
According to witness accounts, at least eight people were detained in a coordinated sweep on Thursday. Many had just finished attending their scheduled immigration hearings, a process they are legally required to follow to stay in the country.
“If they have immigration hearings, they’re by definition documented,” wrote Reddit user justsayfaux, echoing a sentiment widely shared on the platform. “Arresting people for going through the process the right way undermines everything ICE claims to stand for.”
The video begins calmly before showing the man being cornered. A voice off-camera protests: “He has court, he’s doing everything right!” The officers appear unfazed. Eyewitnesses claim ICE did not show warrants, a detail also noted in the original KPBS report.
Urval Patel, the man seen attempting to assist the detainee, says he was physically restrained and blocked from filming further. “They pushed me out of the way, refused to show any warrants,” he told KPBS.
Valerie Sigamani, an immigration attorney present that day, described the courthouse hallway as “chaotic” and filled with fear. “ICE officers were lying in wait,” she said. “People were scared and confused. It sends the message that no matter how you follow the rules, you’re still a target.”
Social media backlash was swift. One Reddit user compared ICE tactics to “pre-crime” enforcement. Another, referencing the notorious German secret police, simply wrote: “Gestapo.”
“Think about this,” another user added. “It’s like if you walked into a store and got arrested for theft before even picking something up.”
A Legal Grey Area
Immigration attorneys across the country have criticized this tactic, which has also been reported this week in New York, Miami, and Seattle. These courthouse arrests — once prohibited under previous DHS policy — resumed after the Trump administration dismantled “sensitive location” protections in 2017. The stated goal at the time: empower ICE to pursue “criminal aliens.”
But DHS’s own data contradicts that narrative: more than 80% of those detained in San Diego are classified as “noncriminal.”
“They don’t want people attending immigration hearings,” speculated Reddit user Ralphie99. “If they don’t attend, they’re non-compliant and easier to deport. It’s a win-win for ICE.”
The video and its fallout have reinvigorated calls from immigrant rights organizations to reinstate restrictions on courthouse arrests. Many fear this tactic will deter people from attending hearings — a critical step in seeking asylum or adjusting immigration status.
Sigamani, the attorney, warns families to have a plan in place. “If you have children, make arrangements,” she said. “Have emergency contacts ready. ICE won’t wait for you to pick your kids up from school.”
ICE declined to comment on the arrests or clarify how many people were taken into custody.
