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| US judge charged with aiding undocumented immigrant in escape | US judge charged with aiding undocumented immigrant in escape |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A Massachusetts judge and court officer have been charged for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant dodge immigration officials and escape court. | A Massachusetts judge and court officer have been charged for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant dodge immigration officials and escape court. |
| The two allegedly allowed the man to exit through a courthouse back door while an immigration officer waited outside to arrest him. | The two allegedly allowed the man to exit through a courthouse back door while an immigration officer waited outside to arrest him. |
| Boston-area judge Shelley Joseph and Wesley MacGregor have been charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice. | Boston-area judge Shelley Joseph and Wesley MacGregor have been charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice. |
| The man was in court on drug charges and for being a fugitive from justice. | The man was in court on drug charges and for being a fugitive from justice. |
| In their first court appearance on 25 April, both Judge Joseph, 51, and Mr MacGregor, 46, pleaded not guilty and were released. | In their first court appearance on 25 April, both Judge Joseph, 51, and Mr MacGregor, 46, pleaded not guilty and were released. |
| According to court documents, an agent from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) attended an April 2018 hearing for the man in a Newton, Massachusetts district court with the intention of apprehending him. | According to court documents, an agent from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) attended an April 2018 hearing for the man in a Newton, Massachusetts district court with the intention of apprehending him. |
| The suspect, unidentified in court documents, was named Jose Medina-Perez, according to local media. | The suspect, unidentified in court documents, was named Jose Medina-Perez, according to local media. |
| The Dominican Republic native had reportedly been deported from the US twice, in 2003 and 2007, the Boston Globe reported. | |
| Court documents cite an order, issued upon his second removal, that prohibits Mr Medina-Perez from entering the US until 2027, according to the newspaper. | Court documents cite an order, issued upon his second removal, that prohibits Mr Medina-Perez from entering the US until 2027, according to the newspaper. |
| The suspect's lawyer allegedly told Judge Joseph he thought that Ice had the wrong man. | The suspect's lawyer allegedly told Judge Joseph he thought that Ice had the wrong man. |
| The indictment describes a subsequent conversation, captured by the court recorder, between Judge Joseph and the lawyer regarding his client's pending arrest. | The indictment describes a subsequent conversation, captured by the court recorder, between Judge Joseph and the lawyer regarding his client's pending arrest. |
| "Ice is gonna get him?" she allegedly asked, adding "I'm not gonna allow them to come in here." | "Ice is gonna get him?" she allegedly asked, adding "I'm not gonna allow them to come in here." |
| Prosecutors say Judge Joseph then arranged for Mr Medina-Perez to exit through a rear door as the Ice agent waited for the suspect in the lobby of the courthouse. | Prosecutors say Judge Joseph then arranged for Mr Medina-Perez to exit through a rear door as the Ice agent waited for the suspect in the lobby of the courthouse. |
| Judge Joseph and Mr MacGregor were both charged with one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice and two counts of obstruction of justice. Mr MacGregor was also charged with perjury. | |
| The judge has been suspended without pay by the state Supreme Judicial Court judicial. Mr MacGregor recently retired from his position as court officer last month. | The judge has been suspended without pay by the state Supreme Judicial Court judicial. Mr MacGregor recently retired from his position as court officer last month. |
| US Attorney Andrew Lelling, the top federal prosecutor in the state, said the charges were not meant as a political statement. | US Attorney Andrew Lelling, the top federal prosecutor in the state, said the charges were not meant as a political statement. |
| "This case is about the rule of law," Mr Lelling said. | "This case is about the rule of law," Mr Lelling said. |
| "The allegations in today's indictment involve obstruction by a sitting judge, that is intentional interference with the enforcement of federal law and that is a crime." | "The allegations in today's indictment involve obstruction by a sitting judge, that is intentional interference with the enforcement of federal law and that is a crime." |
| But the charges were met with almost instant rebuke from state attorney general Maura Healey, who called the indictment a "radical and politically motivated attack on our state and the independence of the court." | But the charges were met with almost instant rebuke from state attorney general Maura Healey, who called the indictment a "radical and politically motivated attack on our state and the independence of the court." |
| The Massachusetts chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union called the case "preposterous, ironic, and deeply damaging to the rule of law". | The Massachusetts chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union called the case "preposterous, ironic, and deeply damaging to the rule of law". |
| "This decision seems to have little to do with the actual facts, and everything to do with enforcing the president's anti-immigrant agenda." | "This decision seems to have little to do with the actual facts, and everything to do with enforcing the president's anti-immigrant agenda." |
| The charged rhetoric underscores mounting tensions over President Donald Trump's administration and its immigration crackdown. | The charged rhetoric underscores mounting tensions over President Donald Trump's administration and its immigration crackdown. |
| Last month, US officials said the US-Mexico border was at a "breaking point" amid an "unprecedented" surge in migrant numbers. | Last month, US officials said the US-Mexico border was at a "breaking point" amid an "unprecedented" surge in migrant numbers. |
| More on the US migrant crisis | More on the US migrant crisis |