For months, a group of faith-based volunteers quietly stood in the hallways of San Diego's downtown federal building, accompanying scared immigrants through the often overwhelming immigration court process. Last week, that came to an abrupt end.
On Thursday and Friday, volunteers with FAITH: Faithful Accompaniment In Trust and Hope — a program run through Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church — were told by Federal Protective Service officers to leave the building. When some returned after reviewing newly posted signage, they were detained and each issued a $280 citation for "failure to comply with official signs."
"We've been here since August without incident," said Fr. Hung Nguyen, associate pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe. "If anything, I would argue that our presence in the building actually creates a sense of calm and peace for those who are inside."
The federal building houses both immigration court and an ICE field office. The volunteers have always been permitted inside after showing ID, and typically stand a few at a time in corridors to observe hearings, pray with detainees, and provide information to immigrants navigating the legal process under the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts.
New signage posted on the building's front window prohibits loitering in corridors, lobbies, and waiting areas. Volunteers said they were not blocking access and did not believe they were violating the notice.
"'You can't stand here unless you have business,'" volunteer Patrick Corrigan recalled being told. "I said, 'I'm not trying to be wise, but what is business? We're here to accompany and pray — it's not loitering.'"
The Federal Protective Service, which oversees federal facilities as part of the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement that regulations against obstructing federal property "are not new" and that noncompliance with lawful commands is a crime. The agency did not specify what actions the volunteers took that constituted obstruction.
"It's completely ridiculous," said volunteer Robert Kovelman. "This is a federal building, open to people who show the right form of ID, which we did to enter the building."
Fr. Nguyen said he went to the building to speak with an FPS supervisor after the citations were issued, without success. The volunteers say they plan to continue their advocacy despite the new enforcement.