Federal judge slams ICE agents for wearing masks during West Virginia arrests

The federal judge appointed by Bill Clinton was among several judges who drew criticism for continuing to order the release of some prisoners. 650 illegal immigrants were arrested In “Operation Rural Roads”.

In one case that caught public attention, Judge Joseph Goodwin of the Southern District of West Virginia agreed to release Salvadoran citizen Anderson Jesus Urquila Ramos, a decision of the man’s lawyer. Bloomberg Law said “Reinforces that immigration enforcement must operate within constitutional limits.”

In his order, Goodwin criticized ICE agents’ masks and warrantless arrests, saying that “sanitized judicial rhetoric cannot do justice to what is happening.”

Goodwin called DHS’s behavior “an assault on the constitutional order.” [and] What was the Fourth Amendment written to prevent? According to WVMetroNewsallowing habeas corpus – or the ability of a detained defendant to challenge his detention.

ICE and DHS agents make the arrest. (Mustafa Bassem/Getty Images) (Mustafa Bassem/Getty Images)

in Goodwin ordered Yuri Arroca and Arlie Valenzuela were released and their arrest was criticized after a traffic stop along West Virginia Road near Bucks, West Virginia.

“I am not oblivious to the practical demands of immigration enforcement, including cooperation between state and federal authorities, but the Constitution presumes restraint to be the default condition of legal authority,” he wrote in his ruling.

Representative Carol Miller, who represents the southern half of the state, did not hold back in her response to the situation:

“If Judge Goodwin had faced even 1% of the threats and harassment that ICE officers receive, he might have had the courage to make a ruling based on the law and not his personal political agenda,” Miller said.

“Fortunately, he, his family, and his home have been freed from the fear of investigation and danger from far-left extremists — and ICE agents are not so lucky.”

The mask protects ICE agents from those who want to harm them and keeps their families away from “the target of the mobs who continue to terrorize our cities,” Miller said.

A federal judge strikes down large parts of Trump’s mass immigration detention policies

Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.V. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) (Bill Clark) (Bill Clark)

The country road operation was achieved Hundreds of illegal immigrants from Charlestown in the north to Beckley in the south, and many of the cases are located within the Southern District of West Virginia based in Charleston.

Moore Capito, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, defended the state’s partnership with federal law enforcement in comments to Fox News Digital.

“We in the Southern District of West Virginia have the most committed and cooperative law enforcement partners you will find,” Capito said.

“Day in and day out, they are on the front lines working to keep our communities safe. Our officers take precautions to protect themselves and their families from retaliation, in the same way members of the judiciary rely on institutional protection every day.”

Capito said his office will continue to support law enforcement as they respond to the numerous petitions, adding that the cases involving the released individuals are now ready for appeal.

In one of his orders, Goodwin wrote that “no specific risk has been identified that would require these agents to wear masks for this arrest,” a statement that the White House took particular issue with.

“ICE officers encounter a 1300% increase in assaults Against them for the dangerous and untrue defamation of elected Democrats,” spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital.

“ICE officers wear masks To protect themselves and their families from being investigated. ICE officers act heroically to enforce the law and protect American communities with the utmost professionalism. “Anyone who points the finger at law enforcement officers instead of criminals is simply doing the bidding of criminal illegal aliens.”

Obama-appointed Judge Erin Berger, who also recently weakened a core tenet of the “MAHA” agenda endorsed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., ordered the release on similar grounds of a noncitizen large-truck driver who had been detained at the Gent Toll Plaza on Main Road.

Rep. Riley Moore, RW.V., who represents the northern half of the state, Including Jefferson Countywhere local law enforcement cooperates with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to quickly remove suspects from the streets, agreed with Miller that judges must understand the risks clients face.

“ICE agents are being investigated and their families are being attacked by far-leftists simply for doing their jobs,” Moore told Fox News Digital.

“We have seen time and time again what violent leftists are capable of, and our ICE agents should never be subjected to this terrible treatment.”

A federal judge has released four illegal immigrants convicted of murder and sex crimes from ICE custody

Moore called Goodwin’s ruling “shameful” and said it puts ideology above protecting American families.

“I am grateful to the brave ICE agents who are doing their duty to defend America,” he said. Gov. Patrick Morrisey shared the sentiment.

“We stand with President Trump, the US Department of Justice and the US Attorney’s Office, and are confident that as these cases move through the judicial system, the court will find that the protection and safety of federal agents is constitutional,” Morrissey told Fox News Digital.

“We also stand firmly with ICE. The safety of law enforcement officers is paramount.”

Morrissey said threats of investigation, targeted harassment and violence are “very real.”

“There is a clear need to protect those who serve,” he said, disagreeing with the politeness of the bench.

“These men and women are putting themselves at risk to enforce the law, and we will always stand with our fellow officers.”

Some of the released individuals are named President Donald Trump As a defendant, the reference to the federal government would be the party to appeal. Others include West Virginia Corrections Officer Christopher Mason, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons, and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Asked about the issues and what the next steps might be, a Justice Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that concerns about the agents’ tactics and masks were “underscored” by Recent California court case.

“Laws prohibiting federal agents from wearing protective masks are unconstitutional,” the spokesman said.

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“This Department of Justice is focused on law, order and public safety, and will not tolerate any violence directed toward law enforcement officials who work tirelessly to keep Americans safe, despite the best efforts of activist judges who would rather see violent illegal criminals go unpunished.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the rest of the West Virginia delegation — Sens. Jim Justice II and Shelley Moore Capito — for comment.

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