MANHATTAN — U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel barred federal agents from making arrests without exceptional circumstances in and around three Manhattan buildings where immigration proceedings occur. The ruling applies to immigration courts at 26 Federal Plaza, 201 Varick Street, and 290 Broadway, and does not apply nationwide.

Federal agents may still detain individuals at locations away from immigration courts and can make arrests at the courthouses when there are serious threats to public safety. The ruling addressed a practice begun under the Trump administration that enabled federal agents to take into custody individuals who follow requirements to appear before immigration judges, with previous arrests leading to individuals being removed from family members in courthouse hallways.

Castel said the withdrawal of the 2025 policy after President Donald Trump took office was "arbitrary and capricious." Government lawyers recently reversed their position, stating that 2025 policies regarding arrests in and around courthouses set by the Trump administration did not apply to immigration courts. Last year, Castel declined to ban the practice of making arrests in and around immigration court buildings.

"While there was a strong governmental interest in enforcing immigration laws, there also was a serious interest in letting individuals attend removal proceedings and pursue asylum claims before a judge without fear of arrest," Castel wrote.

The ruling resulted from a lawsuit filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Make the Road NY, among others. The lawsuit was first filed last August on behalf of African Communities Together and The Door.

Amy Belsher, director of the NYCLU's Immigrants' Rights Litigation, called the decision "An enormous win for noncitizen New Yorkers seeking to safely attend their immigration court proceedings."

Beth Baltimore, deputy director of The Door's Legal Services Center, said the ruling offered relief to young people her organization represents. "In the face of this administration's ongoing targeting of our young members, this decision brings us hope," Baltimore said. "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," she added.