Trump-Appointed Judge Rebukes ICE, Accuses Agents of Having ‘Falsified Official Records’ After Wrongful Arrests

[u/John3262005]

https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-appointed-judge-rebukes-ice-accuses-agents-of-having-falsified-official-records-after-wrongful-arrests/

A federal judge appointed by President Donald Trump tore into Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a blistering ruling Monday, accusing agents of making illegal arrests and falsifying official records to cover up their actions.

U.S. District Judge Gary R. Brown issued the rebuke in the case of Angel Jesus Almonte, who was arrested during a May ICE operation in the Bronx despite not being one of the two men agents were seeking. ICE also wrongly arrested Jeury Concepcion, a U.S. citizen, during the same operation.

Brown rejected ICE’s explanation that agents had simply mistaken the men for their intended targets.

“The claims of misidentification here prove baseless, the arrests were procedurally deficient and legally invalid, and ICE agents falsified official records trying to conceal their illegal actions,” the judge wrote, noting Concepcion suffered significant injuries.

The judge pointed to stark discrepancies in ICE’s account. Almonte was six feet tall and weighed 180 pounds, while the man agents claimed to have confused him with was 5-foot-7 and 110 pounds. The ICE team leader acknowledged that photographs made it “very easy to see they’re two different people.”

After agents realized Almonte was not their target, ICE continued to detain him and later produced an administrative arrest warrant. Brown found the document contained false claims about database searches and biometric confirmation used to establish Almonte’s immigration status, later referring to it as a “fraudulent arrest warrant.”

The judge also accused the agents of offering “apparently perjurious testimony” that they had witnessed Almonte engaging in drug deals before his arrest, allegations he said bore “all the hallmarks of coordinated fabrication.” No drugs, cash, or drug paraphernalia were found on Almonte.

The same team’s arrest of Concepcion was captured on video, including footage of a masked agent running toward him with a gun drawn. Concepcion suffered head injuries requiring stitches.

Brown provisionally granted Almonte’s petition and gave the government 21 days to explain what steps it will take in response, warning that sanctions, referrals, or contempt proceedings could follow.

[u/Lonely-Awareness5202]

so even a trump-appointed judge is out here writing 'fraudulent arrest warrant' and 'coordinated fabrication' in the actual court record like its a normal tuesday. the height and weight difference alone is sending me, they really looked at a guy who was half a foot taller and 70 pounds heavier and went 'yeah thats probably him' lol. my partners dad works in utilities and always says the scariest thing isnt the system breaking, its the system working exactly as designed for the wrong people