Professor Johnson Talks to Bee About ICE Arrests at Courthouses

Professor Kevin R. Johnson was quoted in a July 31 article that ran in the Sacramento Bee and Modesto Bee about ICE arrests at courthouses. 

The Bee reported that in the last month ICE detained criminal defendants at the Stanislaus County courthouse before scheduled hearings in at least two known cases. 

Johnson told the Bee that ICE targets courthouses because defendants are required to appear there.

"It's like shooting fish in a barrel," he said.

Johnson added that immigration enforcement at courthouses can also make witnesses and victims of crimes afraid to go to court. 

Kevin R. Johnson is a distinguished professor of law and Chicanx Studies emeritus and director of the Aoki Center. He is the former Mabie/Apallas Professor of Public Interest Law and he served as dean of UC Davis Law from 2008 to 2024. Johnson is an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of immigration law and policy, refugee law and civil rights.