A controversial incident unfolded at the Albemarle County Courthouse in Virginia when federal agents apprehended a man immediately after charges against him were dropped. This intervention raises significant questions about the legitimacy and ethics of immigration enforcement operations within judicial institutions.
The detained individual, identified as Teodoro Dominguez Rodriguez, was represented by a court-appointed attorney. According to his lawyer, Nicholas Reppucci, in his statement to Newsweek, the arrest was conducted without the display of badges or an arrest warrant. “Three individuals apprehended him in the courthouse corridor, without identifying themselves as law enforcement officers and without producing any official documentation,” he explained.
Footage captured by Channel 29 News shows the scene where several men, including one wearing a face covering, restrained an individual in a public area of the courthouse. Witnesses present at the scene repeatedly demanded identification or the presentation of a warrant, but their requests went unanswered.
According to Attorney Reppucci, this intervention was unusual and raises legal concerns: “An arrest without badge presentation is extraordinary. More concerning is that one of the agents wore a mask, which violates Virginia law,” he told Newsweek. He indicates that his firm is currently developing new procedures to enhance protection for their clients and their families.
County Sheriff Chan Bryant maintains that the federal agents had properly presented their credentials to the court officers before the intervention. “They provided the necessary documentation and photographs of the individuals they were seeking, and waited until the proceedings were completed,” she stated in a release quoted by Newsweek. She also emphasized that this was not a surprise raid operation.
County Prosecutor James Hingeley, who was not present during the incident, promptly initiated a thorough investigation. He expressed serious concerns about the inherent risks associated with such operations.
“An arrest conducted without clear demonstration of legal authority can trigger instinctive defensive reactions from both the targeted individual and witnesses present, creating a dangerous situation for everyone involved,” he emphasized.
The case quickly mobilized Virginia elected officials, including Delegate Katrina Callsen and Senator Creigh Deeds, who swiftly filed an official Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to clarify the precise circumstances of this contested intervention.
The incident also sparked a wave of outrage within the local community, culminating in a demonstration of more than a hundred protesters outside the courthouse the following day, protesting against the methods employed by the agents.
According to Attorney Reppucci, this intervention sets a troubling precedent:
“This situation risks deterring many individuals, including those with legal status, from coming to court to testify or file complaints. It’s collective security, beyond that of undocumented immigrants, that is compromised.”
This article is based on information initially reported by journalist Billal Rahman in a Newsweek publication dated April 24, 2025.
