Boston Judge Holds ICE Agent in Contempt After Arrest During Active Trial
Boston, MA — A Boston judge has held a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in contempt of court after the agent detained a defendant in the middle of an active trial, disrupting the proceedings and violating court protocol.
The incident occurred when ICE agent Brian Sullivan intercepted and arrested Wilson Martell-Lebron as he stepped out of the courtroom, effectively preventing him from returning to continue his own trial.
Boston Municipal Court Judge Mark Summerville condemned the arrest, saying it directly undermined the defendant’s constitutional rights.
“This is a violation of a defendant’s right to be present at trial and to confront witnesses against him,” Judge Summerville said. “It could not be more serious.”
The judge added that ICE’s actions interfered with the judicial process and ignored established procedures designed to safeguard due process and the independence of the courts.
The contempt finding marks a rare rebuke of federal immigration officers by a local court and underscores ongoing tensions between state judicial authority and federal immigration enforcement.
Advocates for immigrant rights applauded the ruling, calling it a necessary stand to ensure fairness in the justice system. Critics of ICE arrests in courthouses say such actions intimidate defendants, witnesses, and families, discouraging participation in legal proceedings.
A written order from Judge Summerville is expected in the coming days as the case draws growing public and legal attention, reigniting debate over the limits of federal power within state courthouses.
