Trending Now - Judge Limits Federal Arrests at New York Immigration Courts
WHO:
NBC News - U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel issued the ruling.
NBC News - The lawsuit was brought by the New York Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union, Make the Road NY, African Communities Together, and The Door.
Fox News - A federal judge in New York is involved in the ruling regarding immigration court arrests.
ABC News US - Federal agents, specifically from ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), are affected by the ruling.
WHAT:
NBC News - Castel stated that the arrests have resulted in dramatic scenes in courthouse hallways, with individuals sometimes being pulled away from emotional family members.
NBC News - Castel noted that federal agents can still detain individuals at locations away from immigration courts and can make arrests at immigration courthouses when there are serious threats to public safety.
NBC News - Castel indicated that a court case before him was likely to result in a finding that a withdrawal of the policy after Trump took office was “arbitrary and capricious.”
NBC News - The organizations first brought the lawsuit in August 2025 on behalf of immigrant advocacy groups African Communities Together and The Door.
NBC News - The ruling by Judge Castel brings an abrupt halt to a practice that began under the Trump administration, which allowed ICE agents to arrest individuals attending immigration court.
Fox News - The federal judge blocks ICE courthouse arrests at Manhattan immigration courts.
ABC News US - The judge bans most arrests by federal agents in immigration courts in New York, allowing them only under exceptional circumstances.
WHERE:
Fox News - The ruling pertains to immigration courts located in Manhattan, New York.
ABC News US - The specific locations mentioned are three Manhattan buildings where immigration proceedings occur.
WHY:
NBC News - Beth Baltimore, deputy director of The Door’s Legal Services Center, stated, “In the face of this administration’s ongoing targeting of our young members, this decision brings us hope.”
NBC News - Castel stated that there was a serious interest in allowing individuals to attend removal proceedings and pursue asylum claims without fear of arrest.
Fox News - The ruling follows government lawyers admitting to making a material mistaken statement of fact.
HOW:
NBC News - Castel noted that the new position by government lawyers required him to "correct a clear error and prevent a manifest injustice."
ABC News US - The judge's decision restricts federal agents from making arrests without exceptional circumstances in and around the specified immigration court locations.
(UPDATED May 19, 2026 21:23 UTC)
A court case is expected to conclude that the withdrawal of a policy after Trump took office was “arbitrary and capricious,” according to Judge Castel. The lawsuit, initiated in August 2025 by immigrant advocacy groups African Communities Together and The Door, has led to dramatic scenes in courthouse hallways, with individuals often being pulled away from emotional family members during arrests. Beth Baltimore, deputy director of The Door’s Legal Services Center, expressed that this decision offers hope amid the administration's ongoing targeting of young members.
--
(UPDATED May 19, 2026 17:51 UTC)
A U.S. District Judge has issued a ruling that puts an end to a controversial practice allowing ICE agents to arrest individuals attending immigration court, a policy that started during Trump's administration. The lawsuit, brought by several civil rights organizations including the New York Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union, argued that individuals should be able to attend their removal proceedings and pursue asylum claims without the fear of arrest. Judge Castel emphasized the need to correct a significant error and prevent a manifest injustice in his decision.
--
(UPDATED May 19, 2026 13:56 UTC)
A federal judge in New York has issued a ruling that blocks ICE from making arrests at immigration courts in Manhattan, allowing such actions only under exceptional circumstances. This decision affects federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and follows an admission by government lawyers of making a significant factual error. The ruling specifically pertains to three buildings in Manhattan where immigration proceedings take place.