NASHUA, N.H. — A Venezuelan man attending a court hearing in New Hampshire was tackled and arrested by federal immigration agents inside a courthouse in February, in a forceful incident caught on newly released security footage that also shows a bystander being knocked over during the takedown.
Arnuel Marquez Colmenarez, 33, was apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on February 20 as he arrived for his arraignment at Nashua Circuit Court. He was facing misdemeanor charges including driving under the influence, operating a vehicle without a license, and failing to provide information following an accident. The charges were filed earlier that month, on February 9.
Court surveillance video shows two ICE agents intercepting Marquez Colmenarez in a courthouse hallway, wrestling him to the ground and restraining him. In the process, an older man walking nearby with the assistance of a cane was also knocked down and landed on his back. The footage, released publicly this week, has added to ongoing concerns about immigration enforcement actions taking place within judicial buildings.
Hudson Police Department Court Liaison Officer Jared Neff, who was on-site at the time, described the scene in an official incident report. Neff wrote that he heard shouting and a loud bang, which he believed was the sound of people falling and struggling on the ground. He assisted ICE agents in subduing Marquez Colmenarez, who he said resisted being handcuffed.
ICE agents informed Neff that they had orders to detain Marquez Colmenarez due to his immigration status. They stated that an attempt had been made to arrest him quietly in an elevator before he allegedly tried to flee. The arrest occurred just before the defendant was scheduled to appear for arraignment on his pending charges. As a result of his failure to appear, a judge issued a bench warrant.
Nashua police later confirmed that the local prosecutor was not informed of the arrest in advance and did not witness the event. The unexpected nature of the arrest and lack of coordination with local legal authorities have raised questions about communication between federal and local agencies during sensitive court procedures.
As of Monday, Marquez Colmenarez remained in federal custody at an ICE detention facility in Texas, according to public immigration records. ICE has not issued a public statement regarding the incident or the circumstances of his transfer.
The incident underscores the return of aggressive immigration enforcement practices under President Donald Trump’s second term. During his first administration, ICE presence in courthouses increased significantly, drawing widespread criticism from state judges, local officials, and immigrant advocacy groups. A 2011 directive that had generally discouraged arrests in “sensitive locations” such as schools, houses of worship, and hospitals was formally repealed, allowing greater flexibility for courthouse operations.
Under current policy, ICE agents are authorized to make arrests in or near courthouses if they have credible information that a targeted noncitizen will be present and if no state or local laws prohibit such actions. The policy change has led to several controversial arrests nationwide.
Just last month in Boston, an ICE agent was held in contempt of court after detaining a man while he was on trial, further intensifying the legal and ethical debate around federal immigration enforcement within judicial spaces.
The arrest of Marquez Colmenarez has drawn renewed scrutiny to the balance between immigration law enforcement and the protection of due process rights for individuals navigating the legal system.
