Court sees uptick in illegal immigration prosecutions: 'No one feels good in the courtroom.' From the Continuing coverage: ICE activity in the Buffalo Niagara region series Patrick Lakamp News Enterprise Editor Jul 7, 2025 Jul 7, 2025 Updated Mar 25, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save When Border Patrol agents looked inside the back of the van, they discovered Pedro Gomez lying on a pile of tools.kAmv@>6K[ ae[ @7 vF2E6>2=2[ C624E65 42=>=J F?56C E96 82K6 @7 E96 286?ED – 2D E9@F89 96 925 366? E9C@F89 E9:D <:?5 @7 6?4@F?E6C 367@C6]k^AmkAmx?5665[ 96 925]k^AmkAm~? |2J d[ E96 7656C2= 286?ED 42F89E v@>6K :==682==J :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 7@C E96 7@FCE9 E:>6]k^AmkAm(:E9 9:D 2CC6DE[ v@>6K ;@:?65 2? :?4C62D:?8 ?F>36C @7 >:8C2?ED 7C@> r6?EC2= 2?5 $@FE9 p>6C:42 H9@ 92G6 2AA62C65 E9:D J62C :? &]$] s:DEC:4E r@FCE :? qF772=@ 724:?8 76=@?J 492C86D[ C2E96C E92? D:>A=J 36:?8 AC@46DD65 7@C 56A@CE2E:@?]k^Am People are also reading… Friday Five: Concerts return to Concord, a mall business closes and more Friday Five: Celebrity spotted, Chick-fil-a opens and Rotary at the library Concord parks projects moving forward, openings on horizon Google bringing warehousing operation to Kannapolis Trump safe after being rushed from White House correspondents dinner; shooter in custody Gritty and fun: Hickory Ridge’s winning identity Kannapolis issues statement about last week's water contamination TMSA charter schools celebrate new Concord campuses Concord electric utility earns top national safety honor Cabarrus Transportation Services connects eligible residents to care, resources As Dale Earnhardt’s mythology grows, so does that of his NC hometown. ‘One of us’ Northwest Cabarrus closes in on SPC title with win over Robinson Kannapolis Police charge teen in deadly Coldwater Lane shooting UPDATED -E. coli found in Kannapolis drinking water, a few Concord customers affected too Trump signs bill to fund DHS agencies including Secret Service, TSA kAm$:?46 E96 y2?] a_ DE2CE @7 E96 D64@?5 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@?[ ae >:8C2?ED 92G6 366? 492C865 :? qF772=@ H:E9 C66?E6C:?8 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 27E6C 92G:?8 366? 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E9:D 4@F?ECJ 2?5 >2<6D :E 92C56C 7@C A6@A=6 H9@ H2?E E@ 4@>6 96C6 =682==J]”k^Am kAm#66?E6C:?8 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D :==682==J E@ >2<6 >@?6J E@ D6?5 324< 9@>6 :D ?@E 2 8@@5 6?@F89 C62D@? E@ 3C62< E96 =2H[ ':=2C5@ E@=5 E96>]k^Am kAm“$E2J H:E9 J@FC 72>:=J[” E96 ;F586 E@=5 @?6 3C@E96C] “$E2J H:E9 J@FC 52F89E6C :? |6I:4@]”k^Am Patrick Lakamp can be reached at plakamp@buffnews.com In this Series Continuing coverage: ICE activity in the Buffalo Niagara region Updated Feb 25, 2026 Gov. Hochul proposes law to keep police from working as deputized ICE officers Updated Feb 25, 2026 'We stand in solidarity': Buffalo restaurants, cafés and shops close to protest ICE Updated Feb 25, 2026 'It's cruel': Advocates blast ICE for banning book deliveries to Batavia detention center 24 updates Previous Next 0 Comments Locations Newyork Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story After Immigration Court hearing, agents were waiting for him. His detention is now a federal case Jeremy Torrealba Llorente “has not been provided with any reason for his detention – and there does not appear to be any lawful justification … When ICE comes to the neighborhood: WNY grapples with new look of immigration enforcement Thomas Homan, the president's border czar, has said that Trump has secured the U.S. border "to its highest level." But in communities where th… Detained and facing deportation, some see early wins in federal court. Others give up Not everybody stays the course in federal court when challenging detention. Several detainees who filed petitions for release so far this year… Judge Vilardo rebukes ICE's 'about-face' on mandatory detention policy With his ruling in a local case, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo joined a vast majority of the country's federal judges who have rejected… A Buffalo judge kept her off a planeload of deported Iranians. A Texas judge will decide what happens next A judge's order in Buffalo kept an Iranian woman off a deportation flight to Iran, but a Texas court will decide what happens next. Foreign students win reprieve after 'a couple of weeks of terror and fear and turmoil' The federal government said it will restore proof of legal status for thousands of international students, but anxiety and uncertainty remain … UB graduate's lawsuit ties revoked student visa to a traffic stop in 2021 A University at Buffalo graduate from India whose student visa was revoked earlier this month by the U.S. State Department filed a federal law… For ICE detainees, 'luck of the draw' decides who gets a hearing and chance for release The debate over what to do about immigrants who have entered the country illegally or as refugees has been playing out for months in governmen… Watch Now: Related Video Supreme Court Voting Rights Ruling & What It Could Mean For Midterms Putin, in call with Trump, put forward ideas on Iran, Kremlin says Putin, in call with Trump, put forward ideas on Iran, Kremlin says What to know about James Comey's deleted '8647' post amid indictment What to know about James Comey's deleted '8647' post amid indictment King Charles’s US visit ‘about future generations, not just the current administration’ King Charles’s US visit ‘about future generations, not just the current administration’
After Immigration Court hearing, agents were waiting for him. His detention is now a federal case Jeremy Torrealba Llorente “has not been provided with any reason for his detention – and there does not appear to be any lawful justification …
When ICE comes to the neighborhood: WNY grapples with new look of immigration enforcement Thomas Homan, the president's border czar, has said that Trump has secured the U.S. border "to its highest level." But in communities where th…
Detained and facing deportation, some see early wins in federal court. Others give up Not everybody stays the course in federal court when challenging detention. Several detainees who filed petitions for release so far this year…
Judge Vilardo rebukes ICE's 'about-face' on mandatory detention policy With his ruling in a local case, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo joined a vast majority of the country's federal judges who have rejected…
A Buffalo judge kept her off a planeload of deported Iranians. A Texas judge will decide what happens next A judge's order in Buffalo kept an Iranian woman off a deportation flight to Iran, but a Texas court will decide what happens next.
Foreign students win reprieve after 'a couple of weeks of terror and fear and turmoil' The federal government said it will restore proof of legal status for thousands of international students, but anxiety and uncertainty remain …
UB graduate's lawsuit ties revoked student visa to a traffic stop in 2021 A University at Buffalo graduate from India whose student visa was revoked earlier this month by the U.S. State Department filed a federal law…
For ICE detainees, 'luck of the draw' decides who gets a hearing and chance for release The debate over what to do about immigrants who have entered the country illegally or as refugees has been playing out for months in governmen…