Latest news with #FifthandFourteenthAmendment
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
ICE arrests outside El Paso immigration court spark due process concerns
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have reportedly been arresting migrants immediately after their immigration court hearings at the Richard C. White Federal Building in Downtown El Paso, sparking concerns from local advocacy groups. A recent incident involved the detention of a family shortly after they allegedly appeared in court for an immigration hearing earlier this week. Video of the incident was captured and provided by advocates. The family was not handcuffed during the arrest, but the incident has been cited as part of a broader pattern of enforcement actions occurring across the country. Advocates argue that such arrests undermine due process and may discourage people from attending their court hearings. 'People are being arrested and prosecuted without due process. This is a violation of our Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment rights,' said advocate Briana Delgado. Local activist groups have begun distributing informational flyers outside the federal courthouse to educate migrants about their rights. 'Not to make any decisions in court without a lawyer present. You know, a lot of these people don't have lawyers because the nonprofit is backed up, so they can't take any more people. On top of that, a lot of people don't have the money to afford a lawyer,' said advocate Juan Flores. Previously, ICE designated courthouses as 'sensitive locations,' limiting enforcement actions at these sites. However, this guidance has been rescinded under the current administration, leading to increased enforcement activities at court facilities. Supporters of the enforcement measures argue that they are necessary for upholding immigration laws. 'We've had hundreds of thousands, millions of people who are here after their court date has said they're not allowed to stay here. They never reported. They never self-deported. So now we have a huge problem in this country, and it needs to be straightened out,' said Michael Aboud, Republican Party chairman. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the enforcement actions, a statement to KTSM reads in part: 'Secretary Noem is reversing Biden's catch and release policy that allowed millions of unvetted illegal aliens to be let loose on American streets. This Administration is once again implementing the rule of law. Most aliens who illegally entered the United States within the past two years are subject to expedited removals. Biden ignored this legal fact and chose to release millions of illegal aliens, including violent criminals, into the country with a notice to appear before an immigration judge. ICE is now following the law and placing these illegal aliens in expedited removal, as they always should have been. If they have a valid, credible fear claim, they will continue in immigration proceedings, but if no valid claim is found, aliens will be subject to a swift deportation.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
New plea hearing set for Georgia man charged with cold case murder of wife
The Brief A judge has denied a motion to toss out the case against a Georgia man accused of murdering his wife more than 25 years ago. Christopher Wolfenbarger is accused of brutally murdering his wife, 21-year-old Melissa Wolfenbarger, dismembering her body, and hiding her remains in a wooded area in Atlanta in 1999. The Fulton County judge has set a new plea hearing in the case for May. ATLANTA - A new plea hearing has been set for a Griffin man accused of murdering his wife in 1999. On Monday, a judge denied a motion to toss out Christopher Wolfenbarger's case. The backstory Wolfenbarger is accused of brutally murdering his wife, 21-year-old Melissa Wolfenbarger, dismembering her body, and hiding her remains in a wooded area in Atlanta. Melissa, who grew up just outside of Atlanta, was married to Christopher, whom she met in high school. After they were married, they had two children and moved into a duplex in Atlanta. Melissa's family says they last heard from her on Thanksgiving Day in 1998. After not hearing from her for quite some time, Melissa's sister, Tina Patton, and her mother drove to her home in Atlanta to check on her. When they arrived, the home was empty and a neighbor said Christopher had moved the family out. Norma Patton, Melissa's mother, filed a missing persons report, but Christopher Wolfenbarger never did. When interviewed by police, he told them that he and Melissa had fought, and she went for a walk and did not return. In April 1999, a bleached skull was found off of Avon Avenue in Atlanta. In June, police found more dismembered remains in black trash bags in a wooded area near Avon Avenue. The identity of the bodies remained a mystery for four years until they were identified through dental records as belonging to Melissa Wolfenbarger. What we know The Atlanta Police Department announced that they had arrested Christopher Wolfenbarger in connection with the case in August 2024. Authorities say he has always been a person of interest and that they questioned him back in 2003, but now they have the evidence to hold the charges against him. "He was captured in his home in Griffin, and he hid. It took detectives a while to find him, and they found him hiding behind a dryer," Atlanta Police Detective Jarion Shepard said during the press conference. Shepard described the investigation as a long process and would not elaborate on what new evidence led to the arrest. He credits determination, fresh eyes and advanced technology. What's next Court records show Wolfenbarger's attorneys asked a Fulton County superior court judge to toss the case out, arguing that the state took too long after the alleged crime before the indictment. The judge disagreed with the defense's Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment arguments, allowing the case to move forward. A new plea hearing has been set for May 5. Wolfenbarger remains in custody at the Fulton County Jail. The Source Information for this story came from court documents and previous FOX 5 reporting.
