San Antonio City Council to Debate Immigration Resolution Amidst Increased ICE Arrests at Local Court
A growing concern over immigration enforcement in San Antonio is reaching a critical point as the city council prepares to debate a resolution aimed at protecting residents, coinciding with a noticeable increase in arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) directly outside local immigration court proceedings.
On Wednesday, Councilmembers Sukh Kaur (D1), Teri Castillo (D5), and Ric Galvan (D6) observed firsthand the realities of the current immigration system, invited by the nonprofit American Gateways. The organization provides crucial legal assistance to immigrants facing hearings at the Santa Rosa Street courthouse Monday through Thursday.
The visit came as arrests outside the court have become increasingly common since the start of a second term for a previous administration. According to Griselda Barrera, co-director of programs and operations for American Gateways, ICE agents were rarely present before January 2025, but now routinely detain individuals immediately after their scheduled hearings. “We can see anywhere from two detentions, three detentions a day, like today, to eight. We’ve had 16 in the last month in one single day being detained,” Barrera stated.
During the councilmembers’ visit, two individuals were arrested by ICE. The first, a woman who had her hearing reset, was apprehended while attempting to obtain a new hearing notice after being told the notices were unavailable. An hour later, a second individual was detained while the councilmembers and Texas Public Radio (TPR) were present in a courtroom. Details surrounding both cases remain unclear.
The proceedings observed by the councilmembers highlighted the complexities of the immigration process. In one courtroom, a defendant identified only as “Karnes” – referencing the Karnes County detention center – pleaded with the judge in Spanish, through an interpreter, to be released, asking how long his removal from the U.S. would take. The judge was unable to provide a timeframe. Other defendants appeared remotely, either from their homes or attorneys’ offices.
A particularly poignant scene unfolded in Judge Charles McCullough’s courtroom, where a woman from Venezuela and her preschool-aged son, who entered the U.S. in Brownsville in November 2023, were present. The young boy, seemingly unfazed by the gravity of the situation, played with an octopus-shaped sock puppet, offering moments of levity amidst the tense atmosphere. Another case involved a man from Cuba who entered the U.S. in California in February 2024 and expressed fear of harm if returned to his home country.
All those appearing before the court were informed of their rights, including the right to an attorney, the obligation to attend all hearings, and the ability to testify and present witnesses. Despite having social security numbers and work authorizations, both the Venezuelan woman and the Cuban man were informed they were subject to removal. Their cases were reset for the summer, and they were provided with asylum paperwork and a list of pro bono attorneys.
Navigating the legal process can be financially daunting. Guillermo Hernandez, an attorney at Rivera, Hernandez, and Campos, estimates legal representation can range from $1,500 for initial consultation to $12,000-$15,000 for a full asylum case. American Gateways, which once received over $1 million in annual federal funding to provide assistance, saw that funding discontinued at the start of the previous administration. The organization adapted by initially offering “tailgate” services in the parking lot before securing space inside the building.
Councilwoman Kaur expressed her concern about the complexity of the system, stating, “They both had work authorizations. They had social security numbers. They were engaging. They just want to be here to have a chance at the American Dream, the same way my family did.” She emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for those seeking safety and a better life. Councilwoman Castillo echoed this sentiment, noting that she was approached by an individual fearful of their family being arrested by ICE simply for attending a hearing. “It’s infuriating that this is the system in which our community members have to go through,” she said.
The city council will convene at 9:00 a.m. Thursday to debate a resolution that would task city staff with exploring options for intervening in the creation of a proposed detention center on the city’s east side. Councilwoman Kaur stressed the need for local action, stating, “We have to figure out a way locally to prevent that detention center…we’ve got to get as many folks as we can to come out and speak up against this detention facility.”
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has also voiced her opposition, sending a letter to the city’s federal delegation urging them to withhold funding for ICE. She argued that placing an ICE facility on the East Side, an economically vulnerable area, would further hinder local economic development. “I welcome a conversation to discuss more strategic ways to enhance the economic development of our city,” Jones stated.
The debate surrounding the resolution and the increased ICE presence underscore a growing tension in San Antonio over immigration policy and the treatment of vulnerable populations within the community.
