Increased Immigration Enforcement at Local Courthouses Raises Concerns
Federal agents took at least three individuals into custody on Thursday outside the San Bernardino County Superior Court, prompting advocates to voice alarm over the rising immigration enforcement activities occurring near courthouses in the area.
Witnesses reported that federal immigration agents were present in the Rancho Cucamonga courthouse parking lot around 9 a.m., initiating arrests of individuals exiting the courthouse until approximately noon. Eyewitnesses recounted an incident at 9:30 a.m. when a man and his son were encircled by officers in the parking lot, where masked agents restrained the man and placed him in the back of an SUV.
Lizbeth Abern, executive director of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, indicated that similar arrests have become increasingly common outside courthouses in both San Bernardino and Riverside counties in recent months.
Abern expressed concern over what she views as a violation of due process, stating, “ICE is not arresting individuals based on immigration violations alone. Instead, they are targeting those who have had prior interactions with law enforcement. In America, due process dictates that individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty, yet these situations prevent people from resolving their legal matters.”
On Thursday, a targeted immigration raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol led to the apprehension of three individuals: two Colombians and one Mexican national, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The Department of Homeland Security noted that Godofredo Chiquete López was arrested for overstaying a tourist visa that he obtained in 2007 and was facing multiple charges including felony assault and a misdemeanor hit-and-run related to a 2023 incident. He has pleaded not guilty. Another detainee, Alexander Pacheco Sabogal, was taken into custody on suspicion of assault, although no formal charges are recorded against him in San Bernardino County. A DHS spokesperson mentioned that his removal was ordered after he failed to appear for a hearing in 2023.
The third individual, Cesar Andrés Mendez Garzón, originally entered the U.S. in Arizona in 2023 and was also arrested Thursday. He had failed to appear at a mandated hearing in 2025, leading to an immigration judge ordering his removal.
Details remain murky regarding why Garzón was present at the courthouse that day, as he has not been charged with any crime in San Bernardino County. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security responded to inquiries, emphasizing the importance of coordination with state and local law enforcement to minimize unnecessary presence on the streets and stating that elected officials resisting cooperation could jeopardize community safety.
The Inland Immigrant Justice Coalition, which advocates for immigrant rights in the region, reported that at least 33 individuals had been detained at or near the Rancho Cucamonga courthouse since October, underscoring the escalation of such enforcement actions. Despite the legality of civil arrests outside courthouses noted in California law, there has been a notable increase in arrests occurring in courthouse parking lots since heightened immigration enforcement began during the Trump administration.
In January 2025, ICE issued interim guidance permitting civil enforcement actions near courthouses if credible information regarding a targeted individual exists. However, a bill proposed by Sen. Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-San Bernardino) seeks to require federal agents to secure a judicial warrant before making civil arrests outside of state courthouses.
Advocates fear that the presence of immigration officers in courthouse parking areas could deter individuals, including citizens, from attending court for essential matters such as hearings and traffic-related issues. Abern pointed out that this enforcement strategy endangers whole families, even those who are lawful residents, as they may also be affected by these tactics.
California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero previously articulated concerns regarding the potential chilling effect of such arrests on judicial proceedings. She stated, “Targeting immigration enforcement at the courts inhibits victims and witnesses from coming forward, discourages individuals from exercising their rights, and ultimately undermines the administration of justice.”
