Sheriff McFadden: ICE makes arrest outside Mecklenburg County Courthouse
According to Sheriff McFadden, the agents were in plain clothes and in an unmarked car. He does not know the identity of the person arrested or if that person had business at the court.
A spokesperson for ICE said more information will be released later.
'I don't think I was that surprised, because we know it is going to happen,' McFadden said. 'It's going to continue to occur.'
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McFadden says he is now creating a policy for future arrests on courthouse property. He says he gave his personal cell phone number to arresting agents and asked to be contacted next time so court business isn't disrupted.
'We are just looking for collaboration, conversation, and cooperation,' Sheriff McFadden said. 'We just don't want anybody to be hurt. We don't want anything to happen to anyone and we're just concerned.'
As Channel 9 has been reporting, ICE says McFadden isn't cooperating with the agency's detainer requests. While inmates flagged by ICE are held for 48 hours, ICE says Sheriff McFadden isn't calling the agency before they are released. McFadden says the law doesn't require him to.
Stefanía Arteaga with the Carolina Migrant Network says she is worried the arrest will make people less comfortable going to court.
'We have to remember that Mecklenburg County court isn't just to criminal charges,' she said. 'We have small claims court. We have people who are trying to get married within the court. It will have an impact on the community if community members do not feel safe accessing the court system.'
This is a developing story. Watch Channel 9 for updates.
(VIDEO: Vape shop employee shoots at fleeing robbers in Lincolnton, sheriff says)
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Newsweek
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The Intercept
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NYPD officers arrest protestors for blocking traffic on Broadway as they protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) outside of the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building on August 08, 2025 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images But records indicate that he promptly took responsibility for his actions and cooperated with the federal government in identifying charged and uncharged co-conspirators. A 2014 sentencing memorandum by former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said that Lasquite helped stop narcotics distribution practices and led to the prosecutions of others. "You are, as the government points out, the only defendant who cooperated," Bharara said on September 9, 2014. "You did that at some risk to yourself. I think there needs to be recognition of that and proportionate sentencing between you and the other defendants. "I feel pretty confident that you're not going to commit any crimes in the future, and I join the government in wishing you well and hopefully being able to put this behind you." The court ultimately sentenced Lasquite to time served and no additional prison time, ordering him to pay $200. Lasquite did put that time of his life behind him, according to family and friends in a GoFundMe created Saturday to raise $30,000 to cover legal representation and filing fees, and "essential expenses to fight for Sonny's right to remain in the U.S. and reunite with his family." As of Monday morning, nearly $11,600 had been raised from 56 donations. The fundraiser was started by Vivian Hirono, of Las Vegas, who writes that Lasquite "has had no further legal troubles and has been a law-abiding, contributing member of his community" since his 2012 criminal conviction. Newsweek reached out to Hirono via the GoFundMe page for comment. 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His income helps cover essential expenses, including his elderly mother's medical needs and daily living costs." Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Friday in Illinois called allegations of ICE detaining immigrants without criminal convictions "false," according to NewsNation: "I'm here today because elected leaders in Illinois are ignoring the law. In fact, they're being obstructionists when it comes to getting dangerous criminals off of their streets. They're deciding that dangerous criminals that are murderers, rapists, money launderers, have committed assaults, and that are trafficking children are more important than the families who live in the communities here." What Happens Next Lasquite's case was pending in immigration custody and his legal options were constrained by immigration statutes that treat certain controlled-substance convictions as grounds for removal.
