Attorney General James said, “ICE’s continued efforts to arrest immigrants at or near state courthouses endanger us all and threaten every New Yorker’s safety.

The coalition has urged the courts to uphold a preliminary injunction filed by the Massachusetts district courts and has challenged the legality of the federal government’s expanded policy of arresting immigrants in and around New York courthouses.

“ICE’s unlawful arrests clearly trample all over states’ rights, obstruct true justice from being carried out, and unnecessarily threaten immigrants for cheap political points, which is why our coalition will continue to fight them every step of the way,” James continued.

Local elected officials in Brooklyn have joined James, including District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, who said that actions by ICE make all immigrants scared to come to the courthouse and explained that it has kept important witnesses from testifying in cases.

A statement issued by the AG’s Office reads, “By targeting witnesses and victims for arrests, noncitizens and immigrants are deterred from assisting in state and local law enforcement efforts or protecting their own rights in court.