Immigration enforcement agents are now prohibited from making arrests at three Manhattan courthouse locations where immigration hearings take place, except in extraordinary situations, following a federal judge’s ruling.
U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel issued the decision Monday, putting an immediate stop to enforcement actions that started during the Trump administration. These operations allowed agents to arrest individuals who were complying with court orders to appear before immigration judges.
The arrests created emotional and chaotic situations in courthouse corridors, with detainees sometimes separated from distraught family members.
In his written ruling, Castel acknowledged that while the government has “a strong governmental interest in enforcing immigration laws,” there is also significant value in allowing people to attend removal hearings and seek asylum protection before a judge “without fear of arrest.”
The judge clarified that federal agents retain authority to apprehend individuals at other locations away from immigration courthouses and can still make courthouse arrests when serious public safety threats exist.
Castel indicated that federal guidelines established five years ago may continue, but suggested a court proceeding before him would likely determine that eliminating those protections after President Donald Trump assumed office was “arbitrary and capricious.”
The judge also referenced government attorneys’ recent change in stance, stating they discovered that 2025 courthouse arrest policies implemented by the Trump administration actually did not cover immigration courts.
Castel, who had previously refused to prohibit the practice last year, explained that the government lawyers’ new position made it essential to “correct a clear error and prevent a manifest injustice.”
The New York Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union, Make the Road NY and other organizations filed the legal challenge.
Amy Belsher, director of the NYCLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Litigation, celebrated the outcome.
“This is an enormous win for noncitizen New Yorkers seeking to safely attend their immigration court proceedings,” she stated.
The Department of Homeland Security responded with a statement saying: “It is common sense to take illegal aliens into custody following the completion of their removal proceedings. Nothing prohibits arresting a lawbreaker where you find them. We are confident we will ultimately be vindicated in this case.”
A representative for Justice Department attorneys refused to provide comment.
The judge’s ruling applies specifically to immigration courts located at 26 Federal Plaza, 201 Varick Street and 290 Broadway in Manhattan, and does not extend nationwide. The FBI’s New York headquarters also operates from 26 Federal Plaza, a large facility situated across from two federal courthouses near City Hall.
The advocacy groups initially filed their lawsuit in August on behalf of immigrant advocacy organizations African Communities Together and The Door.
“In the face of this administration’s ongoing targeting of our young members, this decision brings us hope,” said Beth Baltimore, deputy director of The Door’s Legal Services Center.
“Our staff continues to work tirelessly to support Door members who were terrified to go to their required court appearances. We stand with our members to fight for those impacted by courthouse arrests, including those who remain detained, and other cruel policies,” Baltimore said in a release.
