Court Staff Helped Illegal Immigrants Evade ICE In Shocking Scheme

Federal authorities recently uncovered a scheme carried out by court officials in Utah who helped illegal immigrants evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Jennifer Joma, 27, and Lauren Kelsey Morrow, 26, have been charged with assisting several illegal immigrants avoid arrest after ICE agents arrived at the Logan City Municipal Justice Court on April 9, according to the Justice Department.

When ICE agents showed up at the courthouse with an administrative warrant to arrest an illegal immigrant inside, Joma and Morrow allegedly misused court databases to identify who was illegally in the United States before escorting them out of the building, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.

According to prosecutors, the two women began intercepting illegal immigrants, including ICE’s target, as they were leaving the courthouse and then moved them down several hallways before helping them slip through the back door, allowing them to avoid federal agents.

Two Former Utah Court Clerks Arrested and Facing Federal Charges after Allegedly Helping Illegal Aliens Evade ICE Arrest

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— US Attorney Utah (@USAO_UT) June 10, 2026

The department said Joma later drove three illegal immigrants away from the courthouse in her vehicle before returning to work alone.

Morrow and Joma were captured on surveillance video waving and smiling at the camera as Morrow flashed her middle finger, according to the press release.

Joma and Morrow were arrested and charged with conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens, harboring illegal aliens, and obstruction of proceedings before departments and agencies. Joma also faces an additional charge of transporting illegal aliens.

The case marks the latest prosecution of public officials accused of interfering with federal immigration enforcement.

It follows the conviction of Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan, who was found guilty of felony obstruction after helping an illegal immigrant evade ICE. She was acquitted on a misdemeanor charge of concealing a wanted person.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the Trump administration has “zero tolerance” for such behavior.

“You don’t get to choose which laws you’re going to enforce, just like we don’t pick and choose which laws we’re going to enforce,” Mullin said.

“Our biggest hindrance are these left, Democrat politicians that are defunding the police and that’s got to stop,” he added.