ICE Detention Outside Los Angeles Courthouse Sparks Outcry as Man Forced into Unmarked Car amid Drug Charge Case

In a shocking incident captured on video outside a Los Angeles courthouse, an unidentified man was forcibly taken into an unmarked car by a group of men, with one claiming to be from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The disturbing scene has drawn condemnation from the county’s top judge and the man’s legal representatives.

The video obtained by the Los Angeles Times shows the man being physically restrained, his hands bound behind him, as he screams for help. His captors are in civilian clothing, with some wearing masks. The man is then forced into the back seat of the car, but it remains unclear where he was taken.

Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security has responded to queries about the incident or provided an explanation for the detention. However, the occurrence took place amidst a surge in arrests at courthouses under recent guidance from the current administration.

In response to questions about the incident, Los Angeles County Superior Court’s presiding judge, Sergio C. Tapia II, issued a statement expressing concern over such operations, stating they would negatively impact the judicial system.

“These intimidating and unnecessary displays undermine public trust in the justice system, deter people from seeking justice, and send a dangerous message to immigrant communities that they are not safe to fully and freely participate in the legal process,” Judge Tapia II stated.

In the video, an onlooker attempts to establish the identity of the detained man, who responds as “Steven Reyes.” Court records reveal a Steven Reyes, represented by the Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender’s Office, had a court appearance on Wednesday for a state felony charge involving illegal drugs with the intention to sell. Records show he pleaded not guilty to the charge on July 31 and was released on his own recognizance.

The man detained in the video is represented by the Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender’s Office, spokesperson Jenny Cheng confirmed, although she did not confirm if the man detained is the same Steven Reyes with the drug charge.

“These alleged ICE agents, without a warrant or any explanation, clearly deprived our client of his liberty without due process,” Cheng stated in an email. “Such aggressive ICE abductions threaten the integrity of the court system and discourage participation.”

The detention took place outside the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, as reported by both the Los Angeles Times and LA Public Press, which obtained the video from a witness and published a shorter, edited clip on social media.

In the longer video published by the Times, an onlooker asks one of the men detaining Reyes whether he is from ICE. The man responds affirmatively. When further questioned, the man flashes a badge twice, suggesting it bears a resemblance to a Homeland Security Investigations badge.

The person filming the incident inquires if the men have arrest warrants, but they do not respond. CNN has reached out to ICE for information about the arrest, the immigration status of the detained man, his current custody status, location, and charges he is facing.

ICE and the Department of Homeland Security previously operated under guidelines that limited immigration enforcement at or near courthouses. However, these guidelines were rescinded shortly into the current administration’s second term, leading to increased courthouse arrests by ICE across the country.

Immigrant rights groups argue that this increase in courthouse arrests represents a broader trend of enforcement extending into places once considered off-limits and no longer confined to border crossings or work sites.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office, which is prosecuting Reyes for the drug charge, stated it had no prior knowledge of or involvement in Wednesday’s detention outside of court. The office emphasized its commitment to seeking justice for victims and holding criminals accountable, while expressing concern that detaining a defendant before the judicial process has concluded interferes with this goal.