El Paso Officials Say Domestic-violence Victim Was Arrested Inside Courthouse

El Paso County officials say federal immigration agents arrested a transgender woman in a courthouse last week just after she had gotten an order of protection against her boyfriend, whom she had accused of domestic violence.The officials also released video footage supporting their version of events — which contradict what federal agents said in a sworn affidavit, the El Paso Times reported.According to the affidavit, federal agents had gotten a tip that the 33-year-old woman had entered the country after being deported multiple times and were looking for her at the El Paso County Courthouse on Feb. 9."At approximately 9:30 a.m., [federal agents] observed [the woman] exiting the El Paso County Courthouse and proceeded to walk along the sidewalk," Border Patrol agent John P. Urquidi wrote in the affidavit. The agents then took her into custody after she admitted she wasn't in the country legally, the affidavit says.But county officials, including County Judge Veronica Escobar, told the Times that the arrest actually happened in a hallway inside the courthouse.  Continue reading...