A migrant is led away in handcuffs by plain clothed federal officers in downtown San Antonio on Wednesday. Credit: Michael Karlis

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on Wednesday afternoon arrested at least three people, some of whom showed up for court appearances, at the downtown building that houses San Antonio Immigration Court.

Plainclothes ICE agents and security personnel from G4S — a London-based multinational security company — escorted the detained migrants in front of news crews, patted them down, removed their jewelry and earrings, then led them onto a pair of charter busses parked at 800 Dolorosa Street.

As two young women were being led in handcuffs onto the charter bus, San Antonio right-wing provocateur Hernando Arce shouted out, “Thank you, President Trump, this is what I voted for.”

Right-wing provocateur Hernando Arce smiles as he films migrants being led away in handcuffs. “Thank you President Trump, this is what I voted for,” he said. Credit: Michael Karlis

G4S Secure Solutions Inc. leased the buses from San Antonio-based Shuttle Bus Leasing, paperwork shows.

The Law Offices of Garcia, Ramirez, and Piña also leases space in the building that houses the San Antonio Immigration Court. However, the immigration attorneys’ office was unavailable for immediate comment on the ICE raid. San Antonio-based real-estate developer Weston Urban owns the building.

One woman said her 21-year-old son, who was attending an immigration court appearance inside, was handcuffed following his hearing even though the judge had assigned a follow-up court date for November, TV station KSAT reports.

The man arrived in the U.S. from Cuba nine months ago, according to the station.

A plainclothes federal agent leads a migrant away in handcuffs in the parking lot of the Weston Urban-owned building at 800 Dolorosa St. on Wednesday afternoon. Credit: Michael Karlis

In a statement, ICE officials offered no specifics about what prompted the raid or whether those detained have prior criminal records.

“[Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem] is reversing Biden’s catch and release policy that allowed millions of unvetted illegal aliens to be let loose on American streets,” the statement said. “This administration is once again implementing the rule of law.”

A contractor with UK-based, multinational security company G4S removes jewelry from a detained migrant in downtown San Antonio on Wednesday. Credit: Michael Karlis

ICE also said that if the detained migrants have a “valid fear claim” of returning to their home country, then they will be allowed to continue immigration proceedings.

“If no valid claim is found, aliens will be subject to a swift deportation,” ICE added in its statement.

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This article appears in May 14-27, 2025.

Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...