>>> IMMIGRATION IS BACK FRONT
AND CENTER THIS MORNING AS
PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID AT THE
WHITE HOUSE ON SATURDAY THAT
FAMILY SEPARATION AT THE BORDER
MAY CONTINUE CLAIMING IT DETERS
MIGRATION.
THAT POLICY IS JUST PART OF THE
ADMINISTRATION'S AGGRESSIVE
APPROACH TO IMMIGRATION.
LAST YEAR THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF
THE CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT
ACCUSED FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AND
CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AGENTS OF
STALKING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS
AT THE STATE'S COURTHOUSES IN
ORDER TO ARREST THEM.
THAT DREW A SHARP RESPONSE FROM
ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS
SAID SANCTUARY SPACES.
STEPHANIE GOSK BRINGS US A
SNAPSHOT OF THE HEATED
IMMIGRATION DEBATE.
>> Reporter: LAST JULY MARIA,
WHOSE FULL NAME WE ARE NOT
USING, WENT TO A CHARLOTTE,
NORTH CAROLINA, COURTHOUSE TO
TESTIFY AGAINST HER FIANCE.
SHE SAID HE DID THIS TO HER
16-YEAR-OLD SON.
BUT INSTEAD OF FINDING JUSTICE,
SHE AND HER SON WERE HANDCUFFED
AND ARRESTED BY IMMIGRATION
OFFICERS.
MARIA HAD GONE TO POLICE HERSELF
TO REPORT THE ALLEGED ASSAULT
EVEN THOUGH SHE KNEW SHE WAS IN
THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY ON AN
EXPIRED VISA.
HER FIANCE USED THAT AGAINST
HER.
HE THREATENED YOU?
SHE SAYS HER FIANCE TOLD HER IF
SHE DID ANYTHING HE WOULD GET
HER THROWN IN JAIL OR DEPORTED.
AFTER SHE REPORTED HER FIANCE
SAID SHE HAD ABUSED.
>> I.C.E. CAME IN AND ARRESTED
MARIA AND HER 16-YEAR-OLD SON
PUTS A LOT OF FEAR IN A LOT OF
PEOPLE'S HEART.
>> Reporter: MARIE'S ATTORNEY
SAYS OTHER CLIENTS, MANY VICTIMS
OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, WORRY THEY'LL
BE ARRESTED TOO.
OUR MESSAGE IS SCARIER, I CANNOT
GUARANTEE YOU'LL BE OKAY.
>> IT'S NOT OKAY.
YOU GUYS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO
THAT.
>> Reporter: IN A DENVER
COURTHOUSE LAST YEAR I.C.E.
OFFICERS DRESSED IN PLAIN
CLOTHES TOOK DOWN AN
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT.
>> HE HAS PENDING COURT CASES.
>> Reporter: SINCE PRESIDENT
TRUMP TOOK OFFICE THERE ARE MORE
ARRESTS IN COURTHOUSES THAN EVER
BEFORE.
KRISTIN BRONSON WANTS IT TO
STOP.
>> ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS IN OUR
COURTHOUSES IS A BAD IDEA.
IT'S A BAD POLICY AND IT'S
HAVING A TERRIBLE IMPACT.
>> Reporter: CRIMINALS ARE GOING
UNPUNISHED BECAUSE THAT ARE
GETTING ARRESTED WHEN THEY COME
TO COURT --
>> WE HAVE 30 RELIABLE CASES
WHERE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC
ASSAULT ARE BACKING OUT OF
CASES.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> IT MEANS THAT ABUSERS ARE
GOING WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES.
ABUSERS ARE BEGINNING TO FEEL
THAT THEY ARE IMMUNE FROM
PROSECUTION.
>> DENVER IS NOT ALONE.
TOP JUSTICES, LEGISLATORS AND
LAW ENFORCEMENT IN MULTIPLE
STATES HAVE PUBLICLY CRITICIZED
IMMIGRATION ARRESTS IN
COURTHOUSES.
SOME WRITING TO THE
ADMINISTRATION DIRECTLY.
>> BUT ICE KNOWS THEY'RE HERE.
>> THE AGENCY HAS BEEN MAKING
ARRESTS IN COURTHOUSES FOR YEARS
JUST LIKE OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES.
>> IF THERE ARE THOSE THAT WANT
TO SENSATIONALIZE THAT AND PUT
IT UP IN THE MEDIA AND MAKE A
BIG STORY WE HAVE CHANGED OUR
PROCESSES --
>> Reporter: THERE HAVE BEEN A
NUMBER OF INCREASES IN ARRESTS
WITHOUT SENSATIONALIZING IT,
HASN'T THERE?
>> THERE HAS BEEN.
>> Reporter: CHARLOTTE, NORTH
CAROLINA, IS NOT ONE OF THOSE
JURISDICTIONS, BUT MARIA AND HER
SON NOW FACE DEPORTATION.
>> Reporter: DO YOU THINK ABOUT
THE FACT THAT IF YOU HADN'T TOLD
THE POLICE, NONE OF THIS WOULD
HAVE HAPPENED?
>> Translator: I THINK IT MAY
HAVE BEEN WORSE, MARIA SAYS.
WHEN SOMEONE IS LIVING WITH