Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson backs state bill barring ICE from arresting people attending court proceedings

An immigrant rights group is set to demand local governments support a state bill that, if passed, would prevent ICE from making arrests of people attending court proceedings.

Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson, the immigrant rights group that has successfully help implement municipal ID programs, is calling on various Mid-Hudson Valley governments to support the bill, which is known as the Protect Our Courts Act. It is being co-sponsored by Assemblymen Kevin Cahill, D-Kingston, and Jonathan Jacobson, D-Newburgh.

“(The bill) would make it unlawful for ICE to make a civil arrest while a person is going to, attending or leaving court unless the officer presents a valid judicial warrant or court order,” a Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson press release said. “The Act also empowers the New York Attorney General to pursue legal action on behalf of individuals arrested in violation of this law, and recognizes individuals have a right to pursue civil legal claims when they are arrested.”