Fear Stalks Phoenix Courtrooms
In Phoenix, a troubling scene unfolds. For two days in May 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have arrested people attending immigration hearings. These individuals, following legal protocols, arrive to defend their cases. Yet, as they leave, ICE agents lurk in hallways, detaining them without warning. Local reports highlight the chaos this creates, amplifying fear in communities already on edge.
Governor Katie Hobbs has demanded answers, engaging the Department of Homeland Security to probe these actions. Her stance underscores a critical truth: targeting people who obey the system doesn’t bolster safety. It shatters confidence in justice. When attending court becomes a trap, the promise of fairness falters.
This pattern extends beyond Arizona. From New York to Los Angeles, ICE’s courtroom arrests have spiked, often targeting asylum seekers or those with no criminal history. The question looms: why punish people for seeking legal recourse? The answer points to a broader, alarming shift in enforcement priorities.
Due Process Under Siege
The Constitution’s Fifth Amendment ensures due process for all, granting immigrants rights to notice, hearings, and evidence presentation. However, the Trump administration’s January 2025 expansion of expedited removal has eroded these safeguards. Officers can now deport individuals present for up to two years without judicial review, a policy federal courts have challenged as violating constitutional guarantees.
In Phoenix, ICE capitalizes on this authority, detaining people moments after case dismissals, blocking appeals or regrouping. Legal scholars note this deters court attendance, leading to default removal orders. The American Immigration Lawyers Association has decried these tactics, arguing they transform courts into deportation pipelines.
A justice system that penalizes participation betrays its purpose. By ambushing vulnerable individuals at hearings, ICE dismantles the foundational rights that uphold a fair society.
Enforcement Over Humanity
Advocates for these arrests claim they enhance security, insisting deportations focus on criminals. Yet, evidence contradicts this. Many detained in Phoenix and other cities lack criminal records; they are workers, parents, or refugees escaping violence. Sweeping arrests don’t protect communities; they tear them apart.
Since January 2025, the government has invested $376 million in border militarization, deployed 10,000 troops, and restarted wall construction. Crossings have declined, but at a steep cost: separated families, blocked asylum seekers, and overburdened local services. These measures favor spectacle over solutions, dismissing the economic and ethical case for inclusive immigration policies.
Some policymakers label migration an ‘invasion,’ echoing nativist campaigns like the 1954 Operation Wetback. This rhetoric dehumanizes immigrants, ignoring their contributions and the global crises fueling migration. True security arises from compassion and structure, not division.
Building a Just Path Forward
A humane alternative exists. Many Americans back citizenship pathways and protections for those fleeing persecution. Reviving Biden-era policies, expanding legal migration, and redirecting ICE’s detention funds to community support would restore trust. These steps are practical, driving economic growth and reflecting America’s commitment to diversity.
History supports this approach. The 1965 Immigration Act emphasized family unity, and the 1986 legalization effort integrated millions. Today, urgent action is needed: halt expedited removals, ensure safe court access, and prioritize communities over detention facilities now holding 100,000 people.
What legacy will we choose? A nation that traps people seeking justice, or one that champions dignity? The crisis in Phoenix calls for bold compassion, ensuring courts remain sanctuaries, not snares.