Press briefing, peaceful demonstration held at Chesterfield County Courthouse after ICE detains 15 people

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A press briefing by local organizations and a peaceful demonstration were held at the Chesterfield County Courthouse Wednesday morning after 15 people were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents over four days.

In the morning on Wednesday, June 25, a joint press conference was held by the Chesterfield Branch NAACP, CASA and Resistance 2.0 organizations outside of the Chesterfield County Courthouse, which also featured speakers from Chesterfield County.

Speakers from local organizations included Christian Martinez Lemus, research and policy analyst for CASA Virginia, Gail Christie with Resistance 2.0, and Chesterfield County Branch NAACP President Nicole Martin.

During the briefing, Martin condemned the detainments, echoing sentiments of the organization released in a statement on social media on Tuesday, June 23, when it called the detainments a "direct attack on the integrity of our judicial system," and an "egregious violation of civil rights."

Speakers from the county included Amanda Pohl, Chesterfield's clerk of courts, and Clover Hill district supervisor Jessica Schneider.

Pohl said Chesterfield's court system is not affiliated with or assisting ICE, and that she believed the arrests were unlawful.

Schneider referenced ICE detaining Salvador Calderon at the courthouse on Wednesday, June 25, and said he is not a violent criminal. Court records show that Calderon appeared in court on Wednesday for a traffic infraction -- failing to stop or yield when entering a highway.

As of reporting, information regarding Calderon's detainment was not available on ICE's online database. Calderon's detainment brings the total number of people detained by ICE from the courthouse since Friday, June 20, to 15.

In accompaniment of the briefing, a small group of peaceful protestors against immigration enforcement also held a peaceful demonstration outside the Chesterfield County Courthouse.

Protestors demonstrate at Chesterfield County Courthouse on Wednesday, June 25. (Photo: Mark Morales/8News)

Demonstrators held handmade signs that said, "ICE MELTS WITH RESISTANCE," "IMMIGRANTS HAVE MADE OUR NATION GREAT," and "ICE OUT," among others.

Chesterfield County Sheriff Karl Leonard said the groups at the courthouse were "small in size and peaceful."

The briefing and protest came after Leonard confirmed that 14 people had been taken into custody by ICE agents while appearing at the courthouse for charges they are facing.

RELATED: Virginia leaders respond after 14 people detained by ICE at Chesterfield courthouse

Six people were detained on Friday, June 20, and six more were detained on Monday, June 23. On Tuesday, June 24, ICE agents returned “with very little notice” and detained an additional two people, according to Leonard.

8News has reached out to ICE regarding the detainments via phone and email, and as of reporting, the agency has not responded.

8News continues to look into all detainments made by ICE at the courthouse.