ICE agents detain US Marshal by mistake

Federal immigration agents accidentally arrested a U.S. Marshal at a federal building that serves as the location of Tucson’s immigration court, according to U.S. Marshals Service officials

“A Deputy US Marshal who fit the general description of a subject being sought by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) was briefly detained at a federal building in Tucson after entering the lobby of the building,” the U.S. Marshals Service said on Thursday.

“The Deputy US Marshal’s identity was quickly confirmed by other law enforcement officers, and he exited the building without incident.”

The incident reportedly took place in May, according to the Arizona Daily Star.

Deputy U.S. Marshals play a key role in the federal justice system, handling a range of responsibilities that include securing federal courthouses, protecting judges and court staff, apprehending fugitives, executing federal court orders, and overseeing the custody and transport of federal prisoners.

Immigration courts have become the latest battleground between President Donald Trump‘s immigration enforcers and human rights advocates. Critics argue that enforcement operations single out immigrants who are complying with the legal process by attending court hearings, making them accessible targets for ICE agents under pressure to boost arrest numbers.

The White House has ordered ICE to reach quotas as high as 3,000 daily arrests, raising concerns among advocates who say such targets encourage indiscriminate enforcement practises and undermine due process protections.

This is a developing story.