Overview

• Mayor Eric Adams and the City Law Department filed an amicus brief asking a federal judge to halt ICE arrests of people arriving for immigration-court hearings at 26 Federal Plaza.
• Attorney General Letitia James submitted a separate brief seeking a preliminary injunction to end prolonged holds at ICE’s Manhattan office or require immediate improvements to holding conditions.
• State filings say ICE expanded allowable holding-room stays from 12 to 72 hours in June without ensuring the facility could safely handle longer detentions.
• A U.S. District Court previously issued a temporary restraining order limiting how detainees can be held at 26 Federal Plaza, with reported slowdowns in detentions even as ICE agents remain near courtrooms.
• The lawsuits, brought by groups including the ACLU, African Communities Together, and The Door, challenge the arrests under the Administrative Procedure Act, while DHS defends courthouse arrests as lawful and resource-efficient; the City Council added $33.6 million for pro-bono legal services.