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3w ago

Boston Judge Holds ICE Agent in Contempt Over Mid-Trial Immigrant Detention

The judge dismissed the criminal case against Wilson Martell-Lebron, citing prosecutorial misconduct and constitutional violations after ICE's intervention.

A deportation officer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducts a brief before an early morning operation, Dec. 17, 2024, in the Bronx borough of New York.
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Overview

  • Judge Mark Summerville ruled that ICE agent Brian Sullivan obstructed justice and violated the defendant's 6th and 14th Amendment rights by detaining Wilson Martell-Lebron during his trial.
  • The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office stated it was unaware of ICE's plans and criticized the agency for interfering with its prosecution of Martell-Lebron.
  • Martell-Lebron's criminal case, involving allegations of false information on a license application, was dismissed due to prosecutorial misconduct tied to ICE's actions.
  • ICE identified Martell-Lebron as Juan Carlos Baez, an undocumented immigrant with prior drug trafficking convictions, and defended its actions as standard enforcement practice.
  • The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office is exploring escalating the matter to the Supreme Judicial Court as tensions between Massachusetts' sanctuary policies and federal immigration enforcement deepen.