ICE Arrests Spark Massive Protest, Shut Down of Concord Immigration Court

Protests Erupt in Concord as ICE Detains Asylum Seekers, Forcing Court Closure Concord, CA – A significant protest unfolded outside the Concord Immigration Court on June 10, 2025, after ICE agents detained several individuals. The ensuing demonstration led to the cancellation of afternoon court hearings, highlighting tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the Bay Area. NBC Bay Area crews captured the scene as protesters attempted to block ICE agents from taking individuals into custody. Jodi Hernandez, reporting live from Concord, described the scene as "quite a scene" with "things got so fired up that the court building was placed on lockdown." The protest included chants of "No Justice, No Peace!" and drew dozens of participants. Immigration attorney Heliodoro Moreno, speaking with NBC Bay Area, stated that the ICE actions were causing people to be "afraid to come to their court," creating a chilling effect on the legal process. One asylum seeker, Luis Artero, shared his fear of deportation, showing reporters gunshot wounds he sustained in Mexico. "I feel nervous and I’m scared to go back to my town. It’s very dangerous. People have tried to kill me. I can’t go back to my town." he said. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, representing Concord, expressed deep concern, stating in a press release that the ICE targeting was "cruel, unnecessary, at times lacking due process, and is yet another attempt by the Trump Administration to punish California over policy disagreements and to pursue a vendetta against its forward-looking, tolerant vision." The protest underscores the ongoing debate surrounding immigration policies and their impact on local communities. The protesters' determination to prevent unchecked detentions suggests the issue will continue to attract attention and activism in the Bay Area.