Two Utah court clerks were accused by the U.S. Justice Department of acting as "anti-ICE vigilantes" after allegedly helping undocumented immigrants evade federal arrest at a Logan courthouse, according to court documents.
Jennifer Joma, 27, and Lauren Morrow, 26, were captured on surveillance video smiling and waving at a courthouse camera — with Morrow allegedly using her middle finger to flip off the device — as they helped at least three immigrants escape through a back door of the Logan City Municipal Justice Court.
Federal prosecutors say the state court clerks "abused their position of trust and took the law into their own hands" by helping the immigrants evade lawful arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who were waiting in the parking lot for their targets to leave the building.
Background
The alleged scheme unfolded on April 9 while Joma and Morrow were working as clerks at the Logan City Municipal Justice Court. An ICE officer had entered the courthouse around 1:25 p.m. with an arrest warrant for a person attending a court hearing, according to the DOJ's detention filing. A bailiff escorted the officer to a secure area to wait before the officer exited to speak with Morrow at a clerk's window.
Moments later, the ICE officer went outside and waited in his car for his target to leave the courthouse before attempting the arrest, per the DOJ. After Joma and Morrow learned that ICE was there to arrest someone, they "sprang into action," according to prosecutors.
Another clerk assisting them used both a courtroom phone and text messages on a cellphone to keep Morrow updated on court proceedings in open court, without the judge or bailiff noticing what was going on, the detention filing alleges.
The Investigation
To identify who ICE intended to arrest, Joma and Morrow "decided to misuse court databases" to search for criminal histories of court attendees that would reflect country of birth, federal prosecutors say. They allegedly began searching these records to determine "which illegal alien ICE intended to arrest."
Joma was captured on surveillance video taking an immigrant by the hand and walking them through a security area and out a back door where ICE could not see anyone leave the building, according to the DOJ. Joma and Morrow led at least three undocumented immigrants past metal detectors and into the secure clerk's area before escorting them out.
Joma allegedly arranged to meet three of the individuals outside the courthouse and drove them away in her car so ICE could not arrest any of them, the detention filing states. Prosecutors say the clerks did not know who ICE intended to arrest, "nor did they care why ICE wanted to arrest them."
Homeland Security Investigations launched an investigation following the incident. The clerks allegedly did not tell the returning ICE officer that they had led four aliens out the back door or that Joma had driven three away in her car.
Key Takeaways
- Jennifer Joma, 27, and Lauren Morrow, 26, were charged with conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens, harboring illegal aliens, and obstruction of proceedings before departments and agencies
- Joma faces an additional charge of transporting illegal aliens
- Both clerks allegedly used court databases without authorization to identify potential immigrants in the courthouse
- Surveillance video shows them smiling at the camera while Morrow allegedly flipped off the security device
- The ICE officer was waiting outside when the clerks allegedly helped immigrants exit through a back door
What's Next
Joma and Morrow have each pleaded not guilty to all charges and been released from custody. They have reportedly resigned from their positions as court clerks. Their next scheduled court appearance is set for July 2 in federal court.