Activists say at least seven families were separated this morning. Credit: Instagram / @PSLsatx

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Thursday detained several more migrants outside of San Antonio Immigration Court, according reporting by Telemundo and observers on the scene.

Activists with the San Antonio Chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation shared video of the arrests, which they said included a 3-year-old child “taken with his mother.”

PSL officials confirm that the three-year-old was loaded onto a bus with his mother and taken away by ICE.

“Our rapid response observer said it was three families [separated] / seven people [arrested] in less than an hour in the late AM,” PSL officials told Current via an Instagram message.

The PSL message said those are only the arrests that occurred in the presence of their observer. Officials with the group suspect one more family had been separated before its observer had arrived.

In its separate report, Telemundo said one of its journalists witnessed at least four people arrested outside the court.

PSL officials said said they’re unsure whether ICE plans to detain more people after lunch break, which would depend on the court’s docket for the day.

During a Monday press conference covered by TV station KENS 5, immigrant-right advocates criticized the court for requiring in-person dates, even though hearings can be conducted online. Once families arrive at court, many of their cases are dismissed, enabling ICE to round them up for immediate arrest.

Immigrant attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, who represents a family affected by ICE’s arrests last week outside San Antonio Immigration Court, spoke at the press conference. She described details of her client Carmen’s arrest while standing next to the woman’s husband, Eduardo, a U.S. citizen, and two of their five daughters, who are also U.S. citizens.

“[Carmen’s] showing up for court, and she has several avenues for relief for staying in this country legally,” Goldfinch said. “And yet last week, ICE set a trap for Carmen and her family and the judge who usually allows virtual hearings demanded that she come into the courthouse knowing that people were being detained. The cases were being dismissed and people were being detained. And I ask what kind of country is this where we punish people for following the law?”

A protest against ICE’s San Antonio enforcement actions is scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday outside San Antonio City Hall.

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This article appears in May 29 – Jun 11, 2025.

Stephanie Koithan is the Digital Content Editor of the San Antonio Current. In her role, she writes about politics, music, art, culture and food. Send her a tip at skoithan@sacurrent.com.