Please attribute the following statement to Jennie Pasquarella, director of immigrants' rights for the ACLU of California, following the request by the California Supreme Court chief justice to the Trump administration to keep immigration agents away from courthouses:
"The ACLU of California commends California Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye for seeking to ensure that immigrant residents can access California courts without fear that doing so will put them at risk of deportation.
As the ACLU has documented, immigration agents have repeatedly targeted courthouses to arrest people who are there to access court services or comply with their legal obligations. These actions deter residents from accessing critical services, such as restraining orders and marriage licenses, and impede the administration of justice.
We urge Immigration and Customs Enforcement to follow the chief justice’s recommendation and cease courthouse arrests that undermine public safety in California. Courthouses must be a safe space. Period."
The ACLU of California is a collaboration of the three ACLU affiliates in the state: ACLU of Northern California, ACLU of Southern California and ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties.
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