New York City — In recent weeks, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has dramatically ramped up arrests of migrants and asylum seekers in and around immigration courthouses across Lower Manhattan, turning routine court appearances into fraught encounters with law enforcement.
Multiple reports confirm that ICE agents—often in plain clothes and masked—have detained noncitizens immediately after their hearings in courthouses such as 26 Federal Plaza, 201 Varick St, and 290 Broadway.
In a coordinated effort, ICE officers have been observed waiting in court lobbies, hallways, elevators, and exits to detain individuals right after their cases were dismissed or proceedings concluded. On May 28 alone, agents arrested migrants and even observers, including a pastor, at 26 Federal Plaza in a highly visible sweep.
Advocacy groups have denounced the actions as courthouse ambushes. According to community organizations, many of those targeted had pending asylum or relief applications and were not criminal defendants.
A filing in a class-action lawsuit alleges that DHS officials are coordinating arrests immediately after hearings are dismissed, without giving individuals an opportunity to continue with legal cases.
Video footage from inside 26 Federal Plaza’s 10th floor portrays cramped conditions where detainees—many held for days—sleep on floors without clean clothing, medication, or access to legal counsel.
Lawmakers, including Representatives Nadler and Velázquez, were denied entry during oversight visits, raising concerns about transparency.
The dramatic scene outside Lower Manhattan immigration courts was captured in photos and videos shared by media and eyewitnesses.
Masked federal agents formed teams inside courthouses, identified targets, and swiftly moved to detain them within seconds—often before individuals could register what was happening. Lawyers and observers described the actions as chilling and reminiscent of abductions.
Advocates argue these methods undermine due process, noting that asylum‑seekers face a dilemma: attend court and risk detention, or skip hearings and be subject to automatic deportation.
According to Reuters and DHS sources, the rise in courthouse arrests is part of a broader crackdown under President Trump, who has mandated daily arrest quotas and expanded expedited removal authority.
Agents are now expected to carry out up to 3,000 arrests per day, significantly increasing ICE presence across major U.S. cities—a shift from policies under previous administrations.
Impact & Response
- Immigration advocates warn that the approach discourages court attendance and legal compliance. Individuals appearing before judges to seek asylum or relief are now vulnerable to being detained preemptively.
- Lawmakers and civil rights groups have filed lawsuits demanding an end to the practice, arguing it violates legal protections and due process.
- DHS responds that courthouse arrests are lawful under federal statutes for expedited removals and that the facility in Manhattan is designated as a “processing center,” not a detention site, although people are sometimes held there for over 24 hours.
