Big win for ICE agents operating in Massachusetts courts

Federal ICE agents should be allowed to operate in state courthouses, the First Circuit court ruled in a major win for immigration agents.

The case now heads back to U.S. District Court in Boston where all sides will once again square off over where Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers can track down illegal immigrants.

District Attorneys Marian Ryan and Rachael Rollins, from Middlesex and Suffolk counties, respectively, pushed to ban ICE agents from making arrests in and around Massachusetts courts. The federal appeals court rejected that ban, saying the DAs “failed to show a likelihood of success” and the court “abused its discretion” in the case.

“The district court’s contrary ruling was based on a material error of law,” the First Circuit Court of Appeals stated Tuesday, adding the matter is tossed back for more work.

Rollins said in a statement Tuesday night: “Although we are disappointed with the First Circuit’s decision, this fight is far from over. We are absolutely on the right side of justice here.  It is never a loss when you are fighting for human rights, justice, and building a safer community.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2YVel6d