San Diego immigration court volunteers who were cited and kicked out of the federal building earlier this year were in court on Wednesday for hearings of their own. “People are just being sort of detained, accosted — essentially kidnapped — and it’s very important for us to document this, ” Robert Kovelman said. More immigration news Immigration May 27 Trump's latest immigration move clouds the path to green cards Immigration May 26 ICE detainees die by suicide at an ‘alarming' rate, AP investigation finds Border Patrol May 14 U.S. Border Patrol chief Michael Banks to resign in latest DHS leadership change Immigration May 13 Delays in DACA renewals leaving some recipients in limbo Kovelman is among dozens of volunteers who for months were supporting people during their immigration court appointments. Generally, they stand in the hallways of the courthouse to accompany immigrants during their immigration court appointments, while others pray over them. “At the end of February, the Federal Protective Service, [which is] responsible for securing the building, let us know that we could no longer be there,” Kovelman said. Kovelman said that federal agents couldn’t explain their reason for citing them and asking them to leave. He and six other volunteers were given federal citations because they were allegedly not complying with the posted signage. “It was very non-specific,” Kovelman said. “It said, again, we weren’t complying with rules and we had an option to pay a fine $250, plus a $30 service fee, and that would take care of it.”   Kovelman and other volunteers were in court Wednesday morning for a hearing on their citations, but it was on the docket to next Wednesday because federal attorneys were not ready. Kovleman was among the volunteers who did not pay the citation fee after 60 days and decided instead to appear in court. He said he would like to have the charges dismissed. “As U.S. residents, we have rights — legal rights, constitutional rights — and we are certainly operating within those rights in what we’re doing to monitor and keep eyes and ears on what the government is doing in that building and that would clearly underline that we are in the right.” Since they were cited back in February, the immigration-court volunteers have returned to monitoring the hallways, helping people and bearing witness to the proceedings. One of the volunteers NBC 7 spoke with on Wednesday said the tone changed after San Diego Catholic Bishop Michael Pham met with the Federal Protective Service. “We may not be able to change anything for the better immediately in the short term, but if not, we’ll document what’s happening for posterity’s sake, “Kovelman said. Kovelman said he’s looking forward to seeing what resolution is reached. ...read more read less