Congressman, county leaders encouraged by meeting with HSI Special Agent in charge
U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke and county leaders said Friday they were encouraged by their meeting with the special agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations and ICE’s deputy director of enforcement and removal operations.
Earlier this month, ICE agents arrested a transgender woman, a convicted criminal in the country illegally, after she filed a protective order at the El Paso County Courthouse.
“It’s imperative for the safety of the community for everyone that everyone feels safe working with law enforcement,” congressman said.
Friday’s meeting comes on the heels of a heated dispute after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered the courthouse and took the woman into custody.
A criminal complaint states ICE agents took the woman, identified in court documents as Irvin Gonzalez, into custody outside the courthouse. Video obtained by ABC-7 shows the woman was escorted by ICE agents out of the county courthouse.
“The special agent in charge admitted that there will be lessons to be learned and that’s what we wanted to hear,” O’Rourke said.
O’Rourke said Friday that ICE will look into the discrepancy in the court document and video footage.
“We’re grateful to the federal leadership who came to meet with us,” County Judge Veronica Escobar said, “This was an extraordinary incident and as soon as they learned about it, they began looking at it internally. They agree that the courthouse should be a place where victims of domestic violence can go and feel safe.”
“The special agent in charge admitted there will be lessons to be learned. We wanted to hear that. There will be better communication with the judge and attorney moving forward and he committed to more training for enforcement agents going forward,” O’Rourke added.
ABC-7 has learned Gonzalez, an alleged victim of domestic violence, had an extensive criminal history and had been deported from the United States seven times. Gonzalez’s criminal history includes convictions for illegal re-entry, larceny/from mail, false imprisonment (three times), assault, probation violation and domestic violence.
County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal said the victim’s criminal history should in no way affect the protection she is entitled to receive in the justice system.
Bernal said Friday Gonzalez has received an outpouring of support and has many offers from attorneys who want to represent her pro-bono.
The county attorney said Friday’s meeting with federal officials “was a good and productive meeting.”
“For victims of domestic violence, what we heard today from federal officials, was a real commitment to understanding that victims in this community need to be protected and that they will respect and honor the safety of places like the protective order court,” Bernal said.
According to ICE’s website, a courthouse, unlike a school or a church, is not considered a “sensitive location.”
