Key Takeaways
• ICE arrests migrants at courthouses immediately after case dismissal since May 20, 2025.
• ICE detains about 49,000 people, exceeding 47,000 funded beds, with daily arrests tripled to 3,000.
• Newlywed couples face traumatic separations; legal advocates challenge ICE’s courthouse arrest policies.
On May 23, 2025, a newlywed couple, Shaylyn Ordaz and her husband, Anyelo, arrived at an immigration courthouse expecting to take the next step in their legal process. Instead, their lives changed in an instant. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers separated them at the courthouse, detaining Anyelo and leaving Shaylyn searching for answers. This event has drawn national attention and put a spotlight on a growing trend: ICE’s increased use of courthouse arrests, especially targeting migrants with little or no legal representation.
This story is not unique. Just days earlier, Daniela Joy Landin, a Colombian immigrant and newlywed, was arrested by ICE on May 12, 2025. She spent over four weeks in detention before a judge granted her a $10,000 bond at a June 4 hearing in El Paso, Texas. Her husband, Richard Landin, described the experience as traumatic, saying the sudden separation left him feeling helpless and afraid for his wife’s safety.
These cases highlight a dramatic shift in immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Over the past two weeks, ICE has stepped up arrests at immigration courthouses across the United States 🇺🇸, often detaining people whose deportation cases have just been dismissed. Many are placed into expedited removal, a process that allows for quick deportation without further review by a judge.
What’s Happening at Immigration Courthouses?
Who is being targeted?
ICE is focusing on migrants who have been in the United States 🇺🇸 for less than two years and do not have a lawyer. These individuals are especially vulnerable because they may not fully understand their rights or the risks they face.
How are arrests happening?
The process usually follows these steps:
- Court Appearance: Migrants attend their scheduled hearing at the immigration courthouse, often hoping to resolve their status or seek asylum.
- Case Dismissal or Closure: ICE attorneys may request the judge to close or dismiss the case, especially if the person lacks legal representation and has been in the country less than two years.
- Immediate Arrest: As soon as the hearing ends, ICE agents—sometimes with help from Customs and Border Protection (CBP)—arrest the individual at or near the courthouse. In many cases, they do not present a detailed warrant.
- Expedited Removal: The person is placed into expedited removal proceedings, which means they can be deported quickly, often without a chance to see a judge again.
- Detention and Bond Hearings: Detainees are held in ICE facilities, sometimes for weeks, before they can request a bond hearing to seek release.
Why is this happening now?
According to analysis from VisaVerge.com, the Trump administration has ordered ICE to triple its daily arrest numbers to 3,000, up from previous averages. To meet these quotas, ICE has expanded courthouse arrests and brought in about 500 CBP officers to help with interior enforcement. As a result, ICE detention numbers have surged to about 49,000 people—exceeding the 47,000 beds Congress has funded.
The Human Impact: Families and Newlywed Couples
The most visible victims of these new tactics are families, especially newlywed couples like Shaylyn and Anyelo, and Daniela and Richard Landin. For these couples, a routine court date has turned into a nightmare of sudden separation, fear, and uncertainty.
Family Separation:
When ICE arrests someone at an immigration courthouse, families are often left in the dark. Loved ones may not know where the person is being held or how to contact them. In Daniela Landin’s case, her husband Richard spent days trying to find out where she was and how to help.
Emotional Toll:
The trauma of separation is deep. Newlywed couples, who may have just started building their lives together, are forced apart with little warning. The fear of not knowing when—or if—they will be reunited is overwhelming.
Community Response:
Faith-based groups, nonprofits, and legal advocates are stepping in to help. They organize clinics to help families prepare legal documents, such as powers of attorney, in case a family member is detained. The Hispanic Foundation, for example, is hosting a clinic to help families prepare for possible separation.
Legal and Policy Background
Traditional Courthouse Protections:
Historically, immigration courthouses were considered “quasi-protected” spaces. ICE avoided making arrests there to encourage people to attend their hearings and to maintain trust in the legal system. This approach helped ensure that migrants would not be afraid to show up for court, which is essential for the justice system to work properly.
Policy Shift Under Trump Administration:
On January 21, 2025, interim ICE guidance changed the rules, allowing for more aggressive enforcement at courthouses. Since May 20, 2025, ICE attorneys have been systematically asking judges to close cases for certain migrants, then arresting them immediately after court. This is a major change from past practice and has sparked outrage among legal advocates and local officials.
Legal Challenges:
New York City has filed a lawsuit against ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after a Bronx student was arrested at a courthouse. City officials argue that these arrests violate due process—the basic right to fair treatment under the law—and undermine trust in the legal system. Other cities and states are considering similar legal action.
By the Numbers: ICE Enforcement Surge
- ICE Detention Numbers: About 49,000 people are currently held in ICE detention, with 43% having no criminal record.
- Arrest Quotas: ICE has been ordered to increase daily arrests to 3,000, a sharp rise from previous levels.
- Geographic Spread: The American Immigration Lawyers Association has tracked courthouse arrests in 13 states and 19 cities in just two weeks.
- Recent Raids: Nearly 200 people were arrested in ICE operations in the Nashville, Tennessee area in late May 2025.
Stakeholder Perspectives
Federal Government
Officials like Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller argue that tougher enforcement is necessary to uphold immigration laws and deter unauthorized entry. They say that increasing arrests, even at courthouses, is part of a broader strategy to remove people who do not have legal status in the United States 🇺🇸.
Local Governments and Advocates
Local leaders, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams, strongly oppose the new tactics. They argue that courthouse arrests are punitive and damage community trust. Mayor Adams has said these actions make immigrants afraid to attend court, which can hurt public safety and the justice system.
Legal advocates, such as Gregory Zhen from the American Immigration Lawyers Association and Michelle Brane from Together and Free, say that the new tactics undermine the fairness and neutrality of immigration courts. They warn that these actions discourage people from following the law and attending their hearings.
Affected Individuals
For people like Shaylyn and Anyelo, and Daniela and Richard Landin, the impact is personal and painful. They followed the rules, showed up for court, and were still targeted. Many express fear, frustration, and a sense of betrayal by a system they tried to trust.
Practical Effects and Community Response
Due Process Concerns:
Attorneys and advocates argue that courthouse arrests deprive migrants of a fair chance to present their cases. When people are afraid to go to court, they may miss important hearings, which can lead to automatic deportation orders.
Family Separation:
The sudden removal of a family member, especially a spouse, can leave families without income, support, or information. Children may be left without parents, and newlywed couples are forced apart just as they start their lives together.
Community Fear:
The rise in enforcement has created widespread fear in immigrant communities. Many families are preparing legal documents, such as powers of attorney, in case a parent or spouse is detained. Some are even making plans for who will care for their children if they are taken away.
Chilling Effect:
There is growing concern that these tactics will drive immigrants further underground. People may avoid court hearings or other official appointments, making it harder for them to resolve their legal status or seek help.
Step-by-Step: What Happens During a Courthouse Arrest
- Arrival at Court: The migrant arrives at the immigration courthouse for a scheduled hearing.
- Case Review: ICE attorneys may ask the judge to close or dismiss the case, especially if the person has no lawyer and has been in the country less than two years.
- Arrest: ICE agents, sometimes with CBP officers, arrest the person at or near the courthouse, often without a detailed warrant.
- Expedited Removal: The person is placed into expedited removal, which means they can be deported quickly without further review by a judge.
- Detention: The person is held in an ICE detention facility, sometimes for weeks, before they can request a bond hearing.
- Legal and Community Response: Families and advocates may seek legal help, file lawsuits, or prepare for possible long-term separation.
Legal Resources and Where to Get Help
If you or someone you know is affected by these enforcement actions, several organizations can help:
- American Immigration Lawyers Association: Offers legal resources and referrals for immigrants facing detention or deportation. Visit aila.org.
- Immigrant Legal Resource Center: Provides information and support for immigrants and their families. See ilrc.org.
- ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations: For official information about ICE’s enforcement activities, visit the ICE ERO official page.
- Local Nonprofits: Groups like Better Options TN and the Hispanic Foundation offer clinics to help families prepare legal documents, such as powers of attorney.
What’s Next? Legal and Policy Outlook
Ongoing Lawsuits:
Legal challenges, like New York City’s case against DHS, could set important rules about courthouse arrests and due process rights. Courts may decide whether ICE’s new tactics are legal and whether they violate the Constitution.
Possible Policy Changes:
The Trump administration’s push for higher arrest quotas and expanded CBP involvement may face problems as detention centers fill up and legal challenges continue. Congress may also weigh in if detention numbers keep rising above funded levels.
Community Advocacy:
Advocacy groups are expected to increase their efforts to provide legal support and share the stories of families affected by these policies. Public attention and pressure may influence future policy decisions.
Actionable Steps for Immigrants and Families
- Know Your Rights: If you are attending an immigration court hearing, understand your rights. You do not have to answer questions from ICE agents without a lawyer present.
- Seek Legal Help: If possible, get legal representation before your court date. Having a lawyer can make a big difference in your case.
- Prepare Legal Documents: Consider preparing a power of attorney and other important documents in case you or a loved one is detained.
- Stay Informed: Follow updates from trusted sources, such as the American Immigration Lawyers Association and local nonprofits.
- Attend Community Clinics: Look for local events, like the Hispanic Foundation’s power of attorney clinic, to get help and information.
Conclusion
The separation of newlywed couples and other families at immigration courthouses by ICE is part of a larger, rapidly changing enforcement strategy. This approach, which includes courthouse arrests after case dismissals and expanded CBP involvement, has sparked legal challenges, widespread fear, and strong criticism from advocates and local officials. The shift marks a major change from past practice, with serious effects on due process, family unity, and trust in the legal system.
As legal battles continue and communities respond, the future of these enforcement tactics remains uncertain. For now, immigrants, families, and advocates are working together to protect their rights and support those affected by these sudden and traumatic separations.
Learn Today
Courthouse Arrests → ICE detain migrants at or near immigration courts, often right after hearings end.
Expedited Removal → A fast deportation process limiting migrants’ access to full judicial review.
Due Process → Legal right ensuring fair treatment and opportunity to contest actions in court.
Bond Hearing → A court proceeding where detainees may seek release by paying bail.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) → Federal agency collaborating with ICE in enforcing immigration laws inside the U.S.
This Article in a Nutshell
ICE’s sudden courthouse arrests separate families like Shaylyn and Anyelo, escalating enforcement amid legal challenges. These tactics threaten due process, worsening immigrant community fear while advocacy groups fight for protections and support amid rising detention numbers and aggressive immigration policies.
— By VisaVerge.com
