(Sioux Falls, SD) — After an ICE arrest at the Minnehaha County Courthouse forced a mistrial last Friday, the Public Defender’s Office is sounding alarms over public trust in the justice system. Officials say the arrest happened in front of a witness’s wife and baby while jurors were on break, and some saw it unfold. The judge called off the trial on the spot. The Public Defender’s Office says the witness had been legally subpoenaed, and the person on trial is a U.S. citizen. They warn this kind of courtroom arrest could scare witnesses away in future cases, especially in immigrant communities, putting both justice and public safety at risk.
