By Fran Roznowski
Chelsea volunteers from LUCE, the Immigrant Justice Network of Massachusetts, local activists and residents, teachers, high school students and allies from other communities rallied at the Chelsea Courthouse on March 18. The message was simple – ICE Out Of Chelsea Courts ICE Fuera De Las Cortes. Even truckers and motorists showed their solidarity by constantly blowing their horns.
Speakers included a long term immigrant resident, a Chelsea school teacher, Mateo Rull Garza, the Constituent Advocate for Chelsea’s Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Gloribel Rivas-Soldza, an activist from ICE Out of Courts LUCE activist and other local LUCE members.
Concern and anger were expressed about ICE removing people in the courthouse lobby and parking lot even before their cases were fully heard. Resulting in no due process for victims or defendants.
In 2024 there were 19 arrests by ICE at the Chelsea Courthouse according to the Trial Court System. The number tripled to 57 with the new immigration policies in 2025. Chelsea is not alone, in Massachusetts over 600 arrests were made at courthouses in 2025.
According to photos and videos from outside the Chelsea courthouse including the parking lot gathered by local LUCE members, the number of immigrants taken by ICE agents has increased significantly with no notification to their family members or employers. The people simply disappear. It can take up to 2 days for a person detained by ICE in Chelsea to appear in the online public locater system although it can take longer.
Speakers referred to the impact of ICE beyond our courthouse namely the Chelsea School System. There has been a decrease in school enrollment by 250 students which impacts the school budget and the number of staff employed and let go.
Our Chelsea immigrant neighbors often live in constant fear of ICE even those with work permits and permanent residency status and maybe as naturalized U.S. citizen. Will ICE pick them up as they drive to the courthouse or after a judge has released them to return to work or home, walking to or from school or a job or while driving in Chelsea?
In Chelsea and across the country, in particular, Minneapolis, Chicago and Los Angeles people organize to take care each other who are living in distress.
We need lawmakers and court administrators to:
• Pass legislation to ban ICE arrests in and outside of courthouses.
• Mandate video sessions for all Massachusetts court cases
• Stop court and law enforcement cooperation with ICE.
• Ensure transparency, reporting and accountability
• Support community led court observer programs.
For more information contact LUCE – lucemass.org.
When you see ICE agents or vehicles, call the LUCE hotline – 617-370-5023.