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Two Utah court clerks have been accused of flipping off surveillance cameras as they snuck illegal migrants out of a courthouse to help them evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, according to federal officials.
Jennifer Joma, 27, and Lauren Kelsey Morrow, 26, were indicted on June 3 after they allegedly carried out the sneaky scheme at Logan City Municipal Justice Court in Salt Lake City on April 9, court documents stated.
The clerks were working at the courthouse when they saw an ICE Enforcement and Removal Officer (ICE-ERO) enter 'to arrest an illegal alien for immigration related charges,' the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.
The federal agent, who had an administrative warrant to detain the person at the court, then went outside and waited in his car until his 'target' left the building so he could make a 'lawful arrest,' officials stated.
But as he did so, Joma and Morrow allegedly took it upon themselves to figure out who the ICE agent was looking for, court documents read.
The women went into the court's secure database to 'determine the alienage of everyone who was listed on the court docket,' and managed to pinpoint multiple non-US citizens and 'intercept them' before they left the courthouse, the DOJ said.
Joma and Morrow then led the people, including the agent's intended target, through a secure hallway and helped them slip out a back door without being spotted, officials claimed.
But the two did not stop there, as they brazenly took a moment to stop in front of a surveillance camera, where they smiled, waved, and Morrow 'used her middle finger in an obscene gesture,' federal prosecutors said.
Jennifer Joma, 27, and Lauren Kelsey Morrow, 26, were indicted on June 3 after they allegedly snuck illegal migrants out of a Utah courthouse before flipping off a camera
Joma (pictured) was also hit with a charge for allegedly transporting illegal aliens in her car
Joma then drove off with three illegal migrants in her car before making her way back to work that day, per officials.
They were both arrested and charged with conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens, harboring illegal aliens, and obstruction of proceedings before departments and agencies.
Joma was also hit with a charge for allegedly transporting illegal aliens.
The ex-court clerks appeared in court on Thursday, where they both pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Prosecutors have described the women as 'self-appointed anti-ICE vigilantes' who 'took the law into their own hands, but some people think they are 'heroes'.
'They sound like heroes,' a Facebook user wrote about Joma and Morrow.
'Bless their hearts this will make history! Their braveness will never go unnoticed,' another said.
Someone else posted: 'GOOD ON THEM #Moralsoverlaw.'
Joma and Morrow led the people through a secure hallway and helped them slip out a back door without being spotted, officials claimed
Meanwhile, others applauded prosecutors for nabbing Joma and Morrow.
'Bye Felicia. Time to do some time,' one wrote.
'They aren't laughing now,' another said, referring to them appearing to look happy in the camera footage.
Another user chimed in: 'Called consequences.'
After news broke of their indictment, a GoFundMe page was launched by one of Joma's family members.
The page read: 'This unexpected situation has brought immense stress and uncertainty to our family, as we navigate the complex legal system and try to ensure their rights are protected.
'Their alleged actions, if true, could have been motivated by nothing more than compassion and a desire to help someone in need, and now they are facing serious consequences for allegedly trying to do the right thing. This is all allegedly.'
The money raised in the fundraiser is set to go toward paying for their legal fees and 'related expenses,' it added.
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