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A volunteer legal observer, Barbara Stone, said she was left bruised after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the halls of San Diego’s federal immigration court Wednesday. ICE accused Stone of pushing an agent.

Video taken by a group calling themselves Detention Resistance shows agents detaining a man in the hallway of the federal courthouse. In that video, you can hear an exchange between Stone and federal agents.

A individual wearing a jacket with the worlds "POLICE ICE" and a stitched on badge says into another legal observer's camera, "She pushed me."

Stone volunteers as a legal observer in San Diego’s immigration court. The 71-year-old grandmother of two says her job is to observe document and film, not to interfere.

“It is necessary that we provide people who can legally observe when ICE is detaining asylum seekers in the courthouse,” Stone said.

In a statement, Stone’s lawyer, Emily Howe, said, “We believe Barbara was lawfully present. As a well-respected community member, she serves as a legal observer and neutral volunteer who monitors and documents public interactions with government actors; she observes and records incidents involving arbitrary arrests, use of force, and actions that impinge on our constitutional rights and the basic rule of law.”

After the initial exchange, Stone began to walk out of the courthouse. Agents could be seen on camera discussing whether or not to charge her.

“Do you want to file charges? Which officer does?" someone can be heard asking. "Sure, yea. At this point, we’ll get another man," another replies.

ICE agents followed Stone down the hall and handcuffed her.

KPBS contacted ICE, but did not receive a response before deadline.

Read the rest of the story on kpbs.org

📝📹 Matthew Bowl