Lawyers tried to intervene as ICE agents arrested four at Mecklenburg Courthouse

ny1.com · By Jordan Kudisch

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested four people at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse on Tuesday, according to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office. What You Need To Know ICE arrested four people at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse Tuesday Three attorneys were accused of interfering with the arrests ICE warned that anyone impeding the process could face arrest The sheriff's office says it remains impartial and will follow the law Sheriff's office spokeswoman Sarah Mastouri said ICE arrested: Elder Andrade Nascimento Gerson Molina Nestor Ponce Rivas Alfredo Xocua-Xitlama According to the sheriff's office, three attorneys were present during the arrests and were accused of interfering with ICE agents. Mastouri said one attorney asked ICE agents whether they had a warrant. Two other attorneys were near the elevators. One of them, described as a female attorney, was “screaming out” and asking for a deputy. As ICE agents escorted two of the people downstairs, Mastouri said the same attorney attempted to stop them. ICE officers later told the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office that, in the future, attorneys or anyone who impedes the arrest process could be arrested, according to Mastouri. The sheriff’s office said it remains impartial and will continue to follow the law. It is unclear what charges or immigration violations led to the four arrests. ICE has not yet released additional details. ICE has yet to respond to a request for comment. Border Patrol agents conducted "Charlotte's Web," an immigration crackdown in Charlotte, in November. It caused many issues for businesses and schools as immigrants stayed home during the crackdown. There were also protests after ICE agents shot and killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti during separate incidents in January in Minneapolis.