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Interference with ICE Charges Dismissed Against PD, ICE Not “Peace Officers”

By immigrationprof

Here is news from the East Coast of the man bites dog variety.  Public Defender Elisa Villa was cleared of charges for breach of peace, interfering with a peace officer and hindering a prosecution by a peace officer. Villa was arrested this spring after a confrontation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who attempted to take Anselmo Antonio-Valerian into custody during a court appearance on a minor traffic violation.

Courthouse marshals claimed that Villa was interfering with ICE agents by keeping Antonio-Valerian in the public defender’s office. State police were called and when ICE agents got access to Antonio-Valerian in the hallway, the police claimed that Villa, who is about 5-foot-2 and 115 pounds, pushed one of the officers.

The breach of peace charge was dismissed for lack of evidence. But, here is the kicker:  “the other charges were dropped because, by statute, ICE agents are not considered peace officers, and therefore the charges did not apply.”  (emphasis added).

KJ