Access to the John E. Moss Federal Building in downtown Sacramento remained restricted Friday, as at least eight people were reportedly detained by suspected Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers inside the courthouse over a three-day span, according to immigration advocates.
The building was closed to the public for a second day, with only employees and individuals with scheduled appointments allowed inside. A security officer on-site told CapRadio the closure was a precaution following Thursday’s protests, when demonstrators gathered at the entrance, banged on windows and attempted to block the exits to prevent a van—thought to be transporting a detainee—from leaving.
By late Friday morning, metal barricades had been placed in front of the building’s main entrance. A worker installing the barricade said they were instructed to do so in response to the previous day’s protests. The building’s café patio, normally open to the public, was chained shut.
Security personnel declined to comment on how long the lockdown would last.
About 40 people gathered outside the building Friday morning. While those with appointments were allowed inside, immigration advocates, legal assistants and members of the media were forced to remain outside. The atmosphere remained subdued throughout the day, in contrast to the tense scenes that unfolded Thursday.
NorCal Resist, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals in immigration court, said at least four people were detained Friday following their court appearances. An accompaniment volunteer with the group, who declined to give her name, said the detainees were quickly transferred to a detention facility in Stockton, allegedly without first meeting with legal representations, a departure from what she described as standard practice.
CapRadio attempted to contact the ICE offices in Sacramento and San Francisco to confirm the number of individuals detained over the past two days, but received no response.
A woman who exited the courthouse in tears told advocates that gathered around her that someone from her courtroom had been detained after receiving a follow-up court date in September.
Minutes later, another woman exited the building smiling, waving paperwork in the air.
The NorCal Resist volunteer said accompaniment workers typically support pro se asylum seekers, individuals representing themselves without a lawyer. They help them understand court proceedings, complete paperwork and remain calm.
“I usually go in and do a quick sweep lately to see that the halls are clear and we can go in and do our paperwork,” she said. “Recently, there have been ICE agents in the courthouse, which is highly irregular.”
She said Friday was the first time she was denied entry.
“I was denied entry for the first time ever. I’m told that it’s illegal; that all court hearings are open to the public. That’s what’s listed on their website,” she said. “I was denied, as well as family members who typically accompany asylum seekers. So people were forced to enter alone today, it’s very weird. It’s not right.”
“I’ve never seen this level of restriction in the past,” she added.
The volunteer said NorCal Resist is in contact with a program called Attorney of the Day, which connects people in court with pro bono immigration attorneys. She handed off a letter from the ACLU demanding access to the building once again to one of those lawyers via a security guard.
“It’s our First Amendment right to be allowed into these hearings as part of the public,” she said. “These proceedings are supposed to be open to the public and to media, and to request that they align with the First Amendment and let us in.”
By 2 p.m., most advocates had left the building. The federal courthouse remained closed to anyone without an appointment.
Thursday’s lockdown and protests
Protesters outside of the John Moss Federal Building at 650 Capitol Mall in Sacramento, Thursday, June 12, 2025.Gerardo Zavala/CapRadio
The federal building was originally locked down just before noon Thursday. Four men who appeared to be plainclothed agents rushed and surrounded a man leaving immigration court, leading him toward a service elevator. The building was shut down less than an hour later, and only people with appointments and employees were allowed to reenter. An armed group of law enforcement officers was also seen inside.
NorCal Resist volunteer Giselle Garcia later told CapRadio in a text message at least one additional person was detained by immigration authorities on Thursday. “ICE purposely blocked our volunteers from getting their names and info to connect them to our support team,” she wrote.
Reporters contacted ICE to verify, but received no response.
Dozens of protesters gathered around the building holding signs, writing in chalk and chanting. At least one was temporarily detained by police officers. Several protesters were also seen surrounding and fighting with a man they accused of being an undercover immigration agent, which CapRadio was unable to verify.
Garcia said the closure happened after her organization and other observers refused to be intimidated into leaving. “They don't want observers in there documenting all of the government offenses against humanity,” she said.
Courthouse security said shutdowns happen if an operation is about to be conducted, or for other necessary reasons.
Additional detainments also happened at the federal building earlier this week. Two men were handcuffed after leaving immigration court Wednesday, and were led to the ICE office on the building’s first floor by plainclothes men, according to The Sacramento Bee.
Gerardo Zavala and Keyshawn Davis contributed reporting to this story.
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