“I was nervous, but I somehow felt safe knowing that it was a small court. It was considered to be a small case,” Martinez told the Post. “In my eyes, it was a misunderstanding, and I was willing to go and show up to court and just do the right thing and explain myself. I knew there were consequences and I wanted to make sure I did everything right.”
Stories like Paulina’s are all too common — good faith efforts to engage in the justice system land immigrants in unpredictable circumstances, often accompanied by threats of deportation. Since President Trump took office, there’s been a sharp rise in ICE presence at municipal and district courthouses — 1500% in some cases. The increase has created a chilling effect among immigrants — including witnesses and victims of crime and domestic violence — who attempt to engage with courts in efforts to seek justice. Several states are now moving to enact legislation limiting federal immigration agents’ access to courthouses.
