Fact check: Is ICE arresting people who come to their legal immigration court hearings

1. Summary of the results

The analyses conclusively show that ICE is actively conducting arrests at immigration courts across the United States. These arrests are occurring even after deportation cases have been dismissed, with multiple sources confirming this practice in at least 13 states and 19 cities ^[1]. The arrests are part of a broader strategy to accelerate immigration enforcement ^[2], with individuals being placed into expedited removal proceedings immediately after court dismissals.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements were missing from the original question:

• The practice is documented in specific cities including Phoenix, Seattle, and San Diego ^[3]
• There are named examples of individuals affected, such as Julio David Pérez Rodríguez, who was handcuffed and taken into custody after his immigration hearing ^[4]
• These arrests are part of a larger enforcement strategy that includes "collateral arrests" of people without criminal records ^[5]
• The practice has expanded to at least 21 cities nationwide ^[6]
• This is happening specifically to immigrants who have been in the country for less than two years, according to internal DHS documents ^[2]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question's simplicity obscures several important aspects:

• It doesn't acknowledge that these arrests are happening even to people complying with legal court processes ^[4]
• The American Immigration Lawyers Association has characterized these arrests as a "flagrant betrayal of basic fairness and due process" ^[3]
• The practice appears to be systematic rather than isolated, as evidenced by internal DHS directives ^[2]

Those benefiting from this narrative include:

• Immigration enforcement agencies seeking to demonstrate aggressive enforcement metrics
• Political figures advocating for stricter immigration policies
• Those opposing the practice, such as immigration attorneys and advocacy groups, who can use these incidents to challenge current immigration policies