New York: A federal judge in New York has ordered immigration authorities to stop making civil immigration arrests at immigration courts in New York City, delivering a major setback to recent enforcement practices by the administration.
In a ruling issued this week, the court said agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could not detain migrants attending scheduled immigration hearings at courthouses in New York City while a legal challenge against the policy proceeds.
Judge Kevin Castel of the Southern District of New York found that the plaintiffs had demonstrated a likelihood of irreparable harm if the arrests continued.
The lawsuit was brought by immigrant rights advocates and legal aid groups, who argued that courthouse arrests intimidated migrants and discouraged them from appearing for mandatory hearings. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs said the practice undermined due process and turned immigration courts into “sites of fear.”
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition, said: “Today’s decision is a vital step toward restoring a semblance of accountability and due process for everyone navigating New York City’s immigration courts. This court order must be fully followed by ICE, the detention center at 26 Federal Plaza must finally be closed, and all New Yorkers who have been unlawfully tricked and trapped at their court appearances must be immediately reunited with their families.”
The Department of Homeland Security defended the arrests, saying ICE officers were enforcing federal immigration law and focusing on individuals who could be subject to removal from the United States. Government lawyers argued that immigration courts are public spaces and that agents have the authority to conduct enforcement operations there.
