Boston Judge to Face Hearing for Allegedly Helping Immigrant Evade ICE

  

Newton District Court Judge Shelley M. Richmond Joseph will appear at a misconduct hearing after being accused of helping an undocumented immigrant evade U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in 2018.

The case, which has sparked intense debate about the limits of judicial authority and immigration policies, involves Dominican citizen José Medina-Pérez, who had previously been deported twice. According to reports, the judge allowed Medina-Pérez to leave the courthouse through a back door, which would have prevented ICE agents from detaining him after a court hearing.

The Office of Judicial Conduct maintains that Joseph's actions could constitute a serious ethical violation and an abuse of authority, as instead of cooperating with the enforcement of federal law, she allegedly used her position to obstruct it. Therefore, the hearing seeks to determine whether the judge engaged in civil misconduct and whether her continued tenure is compatible with the standards of the Judiciary.

The case has polarized public opinion: while progressive sectors defend Joseph, arguing that she acted in defense of justice and the human rights of a vulnerable immigrant, more hardline critics believe her conduct represents a direct challenge to the rule of law and undue interference in the enforcement of immigration laws.

Beyond the outcome of the hearing, the proceedings against Judge Joseph reflect the tensions between local and federal authorities regarding the immigration issue, especially in states like Massachusetts, where "sanctuary city" policies have clashed with citizen and federal government attempts to strengthen immigration enforcement.