Man detained by masked ICE agents in Otero County courthouse parking lot
Sep 22, 2026·Location: Alamogordo, NM

A man was detained by masked men identifying themselves as ICE agents moments after a judge dismissed the criminal case he had come to fight at the Otero County District Courthouse, according to Dayna Louise Jones, District Defender for the 12th Judicial District. His children, who were present, described the men as masked and traveling in an unmarked vehicle, and Jones said witnesses told her office the detention 'appeared to be coordinated and preplanned with local entities.' Twelfth Judicial District officials, including chief clerk Audrey Hukari, say court staff had no advance knowledge that federal agents were present and that the detention took place in the courthouse parking lot, which is owned by Otero County rather than the court. Hukari cited a New Mexico Supreme Court order requiring outside law enforcement to present credentials to courthouse security and to avoid interfering with proceedings, though the policy does not address parking lots; the man has not been publicly identified, and Otero County has not responded to requests for comment.
Sources
- Public defender: Masked ICE grab at Otero County courthouse came moments after case was dismissed | 2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News
2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news·Sep 27, 2026·archived copy
- Court officials say they didn't know ICE agents were at Otero County courthouse; county has yet to respond - New Mexico Conservative News
newmexicoconservativenews.com·Sep 29, 2026·archived copy
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