A federal judge in New York has prohibited U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from arresting immigrants at or near three federal courthouses in lower Manhattan, where confrontations have escalated since the start of Donald Trump's second presidency.
Ruling Details
Under an order issued on Monday by U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel, federal agents are barred from making immigration arrests at these sites except under exceptional circumstances. The ruling applies to immigration courts at 26 Federal Plaza, 201 Varick Street, and 290 Broadway, but does not extend nationwide.
The decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union, Make the Road NY, and other advocacy groups.
Reactions
Amy Belsher of the ACLU called the ruling "an enormous win for noncitizen New Yorkers seeking to safely attend their immigration court proceedings." Beth Baltimore of The Door expressed hope, noting the group "continues to work tirelessly to support members who were terrified to go to their required court appearances."
Judge's Reasoning
In a 15-page order, Castel acknowledged a strong governmental interest in enforcing immigration laws but emphasized the serious interest in allowing individuals to attend removal proceedings and pursue asylum claims "without fear of arrest." He noted that federal agents can still detain individuals away from immigration courts and make arrests at courthouses if there is a serious public safety threat.
The judge also referenced a 2021 federal policy regarding enforcement actions inside courthouses, stating that the Trump administration's withdrawal of that policy was likely "arbitrary and capricious." He initially allowed arrests in September but reversed after government attorneys admitted their earlier position was mistaken, apologizing for a "material mistaken statement of fact."
Background
The lower Manhattan federal buildings, including 26 Federal Plaza where ICE maintains an office, have been sites of immigrants' arrests, protests, and standoffs, including the detention of local elected officials. Similar tensions have arisen in cities like Los Angeles and Minneapolis, where federal agents shot two U.S. citizens in separate incidents in January, sparking widespread protests and polling showing most Americans believed ICE tactics had gone too far.
Legal Arguments
Groups involved in the lawsuit, including African Communities Together and The Door, argued that making arrests at federal immigration locations was "profoundly unfair" and undermined the rule of law and the integrity of immigration courts. Castel's ruling aims to correct a "clear error and prevent a manifest injustice."
