Immigration demonstrators stage sit-in at Philly Sheriff’s Office over ICE courthouse arrests
Many who go to the courthouse are not criminal defendants. They are witnesses, victims, and family members.
More than a dozen No Ice Philly activists staged a sit-in at the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office Thursday demanding that Sheriff Rochelle Bilal take action to stop ICE arrests at the courthouse.
The sit-in comes amid continuing protests against the sheriff, who activists say has allowed Immigration and Customs Enforcement to turn the courthouse into “a hunting ground” for immigrants.
At least half a dozen demonstrators were handcuffed and placed into sheriff’s vans, though it was not immediately clear whether anyone was formally arrested. A lieutenant said those handcuffed were being taken to Philadelphia police headquarters, where they could be charged with offenses including disorderly conduct.
“Which side are you on, sheriff, which side on you on?” the group chanted. “Why won’t you take action? Which side are you on?”
The group No ICE Philly has castigated the sheriff and said that by not barring ICE ― as judges and lawmakers in some other jurisdictions have done — she has helped enable the arrest of more than 100 immigrants who have been trailed from the courthouse and arrested on the sidewalk.
No ICE Philly and allied groups have mounted a week of action that included an attempt by clergy to block the doors of the agency garage in Center City. Ten people were arrested.
That group and others say ICE agents have been allowed to essentially hang out at the Center City courthouse, waiting in the lobby or scouring the hallways, then making arrests outside.
The sheriff has said her office does not cooperate with ICE, does not assist in ICE operations, and does not share information with the agency. And that the office will comply with court orders regarding the comings and goings of ICE officers.
During Thursday’s protest, a man who identified himself as a special assistant to the chief of staff told the group Bilal was “busy right now.” He told themthey needed to leave the office’s foyer, but could continue their demonstration outside.
After no protesters moved, two uniformed sheriff’s deputies arrived and conferred in a hallway, followed by the arrival of five more. They were met with chants from protesters.
“No ICE at the CJC, change the policy then we’ll leave,” the group said.
In January, the judicial district that oversees the Philadelphia court system said the authority for managing ICE’s presence at the Criminal Justice Center rested on the sheriff and decisions around that were her “sole responsibility.”
That followed a news conference where the sheriff joined local elected and community leaders who suggested that court officials or legislators needed to address the turmoil around courthouse immigration arrests. They called for meetings with court leaders to discuss setting guardrails on ICE activity.
The First Judicial District responded with a statement that said it was “always willing to discuss matters of mutual concern with our justice partners, but managing security in court buildings ― which includes managing ICE’s presence ― is the sole responsibility of the sheriff. These decisions are the sheriff’s to make.”
The Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office responded that it was “ready to execute all lawful judicial orders.”
The office has said security inside court facilities is its responsibility; outside areas are public spaces that are not under its control.
ICE’s presence in and around the Criminal Justice Center has provoked demonstrations partly because many who go there are not criminal defendants. They are witnesses, victims, family members, and others in diversionary programs.
But they have been targeted and arrested by ICE, immigration attorneys and government officials say, causing witnesses and victims to stay away from court and damaging the administration of justice in Philadelphia.