Courthouse Escape Plot Caught On Camera

Two Utah court clerks allegedly used government databases and a back-door escape route to help illegal aliens dodge federal agents — and now they’re facing serious federal charges that could land them in prison.

Story Snapshot

Clerks Joma and Morrow were arrested and charged with conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens, plus obstruction of federal proceedings.
Prosecutors say the clerks searched court databases to find immigrants on the docket, then guided them through secure hallways and out a back door to avoid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
One clerk allegedly drove three illegal aliens away from the courthouse in her personal vehicle, including a person ICE had an active arrest warrant for.
Both clerks pleaded not guilty on June 12, 2026, and the case is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) “Operation Take Back America.”

What the Federal Charges Say Happened

A federal grand jury unsealed an indictment on June 3, 2026, charging two former court clerks — identified as Joma and Morrow — with serious federal crimes. ^[1] The charges include conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens, harboring illegal aliens, and obstruction of proceedings before a federal department or agency. The alleged incident took place on April 9, 2026, at the Logan City Municipal Justice Court in Utah.

According to the DOJ, the clerks did not act randomly. Prosecutors allege that after learning ICE agents were present at the courthouse, the clerks searched court databases to check the immigration status of everyone on the docket that day. ^[1] That is a serious abuse of government systems — systems taxpayers fund to run the courts, not to help people evade federal law enforcement.

Surveillance Cameras Caught the Escape on Film

Surveillance footage from inside the courthouse allegedly shows the clerks guiding individuals through secure hallways and out a back door, away from the ICE agents waiting in the main areas. ^[3] One clerk reportedly made an obscene gesture toward a security camera during the escape. That kind of brazen behavior suggests this was not a moment of confusion — it looks like a deliberate act of defiance against federal law enforcement.

The DOJ says clerk Joma went even further. After helping people exit the building, she allegedly drove three illegal aliens — including a person ICE had an active arrest warrant for — away from the courthouse in her own car. ^[1] If true, that moves this well beyond a passive failure to cooperate. That is active participation in helping a wanted individual escape federal custody.

Part of a Larger Federal Push on Immigration Enforcement

The DOJ is prosecuting this case under “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide initiative targeting illegal immigration and those who help illegal aliens evade the law. ^[5] This signals that the federal government is serious about holding people accountable — no matter their job title. Being a government employee does not give anyone the right to obstruct federal agents doing their jobs.

Two former Utah state court clerks were arrested June 10 for allegedly helping an illegal alien evade an ICE arrest in April.

Jennifer Joma and Lauren Kelsey Morrow also allegedly obstructed immigration proceedings and lawful immigration enforcement by helping at least one of… pic.twitter.com/AT1PIQl8Tj

— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) June 26, 2026

Both clerks pleaded not guilty on June 12, 2026. ^[4] Their defense attorney described them as “good, hard-working people caught in today’s political climate.” That framing is worth noting. Some people have called the clerks heroes online, and GoFundMe pages were launched in their support. But sympathy does not change the law. If the evidence holds up — surveillance footage, database records, and witness accounts — these clerks face real consequences for what prosecutors say was a clear betrayal of public trust. The case is a reminder that enforcing immigration law requires cooperation at every level of government, and those who obstruct it will be held accountable.