Judge Blocks Most ICE Civil Arrests at 3 Manhattan Courts

A federal judge has temporarily blocked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from making most civil immigration arrests at three immigration court locations in Manhattan. The order, issued Monday by U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel, requires ICE to revert to more restrictive enforcement guidelines while a broader legal challenge proceeds.

The ruling applies specifically to immigration courts at 26 Federal Plaza, 201 Varick Street, and 290 Broadway. Under the order, ICE agents are prohibited from arresting individuals at these locations except in limited circumstances, such as when there is a serious threat to public safety, an imminent risk of flight that cannot be addressed otherwise, or national security concerns.

The decision follows an admission by government lawyers in March that they had made a material mistaken statement of fact while defending the arrest policy in court. The Justice Department stated that a May 2025 ICE memo on courthouse enforcement does not, and has never, applied to enforcement actions at immigration courts. Judge Castel stated this reversal justified revisiting an earlier ruling to correct a clear error and prevent a manifest injustice.