San Francisco Immigration Court was again the scene of chaos and clashes between authorities and protesters Tuesday as federal agents detained at least one person and faced a swarm of activists trying to prevent the arrest, including several who clung to a black van as it drove away.
Videos posted on social media showed a tense scene Tuesday morning as roughly 30 protesters attempted to block Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from escorting the person to a van outside the courthouse at 100 Montgomery St. The group screamed, physically confronted agents and tried to block the van from departing, and ICE officers in body armor, at least some of whom wore masks, yelled for them to stay away and forcefully pushed and moved them away.
The arrest is the latest of at least 26 courthouse detentions in San Francisco immigration court since May, according to Milli Atkinson, legal director at the San Francisco Immigrant Legal Defense Collaborative, who heads up the city’s Rapid Response Network that responds to immigration enforcement actions. The arrests in San Francisco, Concord and other cities have sparked angry protests and near-violent confrontations at courthouses where immigrants facing potential deportation attend hearings…