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New York federal judge bans ICE arrests at Manhattan immigration courts
TL;DR
A New York federal judge has prohibited ICE from arresting immigrants at three Manhattan immigration court locations, allowing them to attend hearings without fear of detention. This ruling follows a lawsuit by civil rights groups and is seen as a significant victory for noncitizens.
Key points
- Federal judge bans ICE arrests at Manhattan immigration courts
- Ruling applies to three specific courthouses
- Decision follows a lawsuit by civil rights groups
- Noncitizens can attend court hearings without fear of detention
Mentioned in this story
US Immigration and Customs EnforcementNew York Civil Liberties UnionAmerican Civil Liberties UnionP Kevin CastelDonald Trump
A federal judge in New York has banned US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from arresting immigrants in or around three federal courthouses in lower Manhattan, where vigorous confrontations have played out since the start of Donald Trump’s second presidency.
Under an order issued on Monday by P Kevin Castel, a US district judge, federal agents are no longer allowed to make arrests of immigrants except under exceptional circumstances at the sites where hearings are held before immigration judges.
Castel’s ruling came in response to a lawsuit brought by the New York Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union, Make the Road NY and other groups.
The ACLU’s Amy Belsher called the ruling “an enormous win for noncitizen New Yorkers seeking to safely attend their immigration court proceedings”.
Castel said that his ruling applied to immigration courts at 26 Federal Plaza and two other Manhattan locations – 201 Varick Street and 290 Broadway. The ruling does not apply nationwide.
In a 15-page order, Castel said that while there was “a strong governmental interest in enforcing immigration laws”, there also was a serious interest in letting individuals attend removal proceedings and pursue asylum claims before a judge “without fear of arrest”.
Castel also noted that federal agents still can detain individuals at locations away from immigration courts and also can make arrests at immigration courthouses when there is a serious threat to public safety.
The lower Manhattan federal buildings, including 26 Federal Plaza where ICE maintains an office, have been the site of immigrants arrests, related protests and standoffs between agents and demonstrators which have included the detention of local elected officials.
Castel said the boundaries set out in federal policy in April 2021 regarding enforcement actions inside courthouse can remain in effect. He also said that a court case before him was likely to result in a ruling that it was “arbitrary and capricious” for the second Trump administration to withdraw that policy.
The judge had initially cleared the way for arrests at Manhattan immigration courts in September. But he said that government attorneys had recently reversed their position on the matter, saying they have learned that 2025 policies regarding arrests in and around courthouses set by the Trump administration did not apply to immigration courts after all.
Q&A
What did the New York federal judge rule regarding ICE arrests?
The judge banned ICE from arresting immigrants at three Manhattan immigration court locations, except in exceptional circumstances.
Which Manhattan immigration courts are affected by the ruling?
The ruling applies to immigration courts at 26 Federal Plaza, 201 Varick Street, and 290 Broadway.
What prompted the federal judge's ruling against ICE arrests?
The ruling was prompted by a lawsuit filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights organizations.
How does this ruling impact noncitizen New Yorkers?
The ruling allows noncitizen New Yorkers to attend their immigration court proceedings safely without the threat of arrest.
