Monica Moreta Galarza felt relieved after her husband's routine immigration hearing at New York City's 26 Federal Plaza. A judge had ordered Rubén Abelardo Ortiz López to return to court in May, and she believed that meant a reprieve from his potential deportation to Ecuador. Instead, as soon as they stepped out of the courtroom with their children, she was torn from her husband's arms and thrown to the ground by immigration officers as they detained him. One of them charged at me so aggressively that I was terrified, and he ended up throwing me to the ground, Ms Moreta Galarza told BBC News Mundo in Spanish. They treated us like animals.
The incident, which has since gone viral, led to one immigration agent being temporarily suspended. However, this is not an isolated occurrence and has sparked public outcry. Attorneys at the courthouse report that ICE operations have created a tense environment, with many families fearing they will be ripped apart simply for attending their hearings.
Many of the detentions at 26 Federal Plaza are swift and non-violent, but instances of chaos have recently increased. Legal experts warn that the courts are being abused as immigrants who appear for hearings could face arrests, while skipping their dates could lead to automatic deportation orders.
The Department of Homeland Security argues that it has wide authority in these matters, claiming that they are targeting dangerous criminals. Yet, statistics show that a large number of those detained do not have prior criminal convictions. This duality spurs fierce debate regarding the fairness and ethics of current immigration policies. Ms. Moreta Galarza, reflecting on her ordeal, expresses disbelief at experiencing such treatment in the US, stating, It's very ugly. I feel like I'm worthless now.\
The incident, which has since gone viral, led to one immigration agent being temporarily suspended. However, this is not an isolated occurrence and has sparked public outcry. Attorneys at the courthouse report that ICE operations have created a tense environment, with many families fearing they will be ripped apart simply for attending their hearings.
Many of the detentions at 26 Federal Plaza are swift and non-violent, but instances of chaos have recently increased. Legal experts warn that the courts are being abused as immigrants who appear for hearings could face arrests, while skipping their dates could lead to automatic deportation orders.
The Department of Homeland Security argues that it has wide authority in these matters, claiming that they are targeting dangerous criminals. Yet, statistics show that a large number of those detained do not have prior criminal convictions. This duality spurs fierce debate regarding the fairness and ethics of current immigration policies. Ms. Moreta Galarza, reflecting on her ordeal, expresses disbelief at experiencing such treatment in the US, stating, It's very ugly. I feel like I'm worthless now.\
