A federal judge in New York has blocked US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from arresting immigrants at three federal courthouses in lower Manhattan, except under exceptional circumstances. The ruling by District Judge P Kevin Castel 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 brought by the New York Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union, Make the Road NY, and other advocacy groups. They argued that making arrests at immigration court locations was a 'profoundly unfair' practice that undermined the rule of law and the integrity of the proceedings.
In a 15-page order, Castel acknowledged 'a strong governmental interest in enforcing immigration laws' but stressed the importance of allowing individuals to attend removal hearings and pursue asylum claims 'without fear of arrest'. The judge noted that federal agents may still detain people away from the courts or at the courthouses if there is a serious threat to public safety.
Castel also referenced a 2021 policy that had restricted enforcement actions inside courthouses, saying the Trump administration's reversal of that policy appeared 'arbitrary and capricious'. The government had initially argued that the 2025 policy applied to immigration courts, but later reversed its stance, with federal prosecutors apologising for a 'material mistaken statement of fact'.
The ruling follows heightened tensions between protesters and federal immigration authorities in cities such as Los Angeles and Minneapolis, where the fatal shootings of two US citizens by agents sparked widespread criticism. Polling indicated that most Americans believed immigration agents had overstepped their tactics.
