NY Leaders File Briefs to Halt ICE Courthouse Arrests, Detentions

New York City and State, led by Mayor Eric Adams and Attorney General Letitia James, are actively opposing the federal government's intensified immigration enforcement tactics, particularly the practice of arresting immigrants at courthouses. They have filed amicus briefs supporting lawsuits that argue these arrests violate the Administrative Procedure Act and deter immigrants from attending mandatory hearings, undermining due process and public safety. The city describes New York as the epicenter of this federal courthouse arrest campaign, which they say erodes trust in the justice system and discourages immigrants from reporting crimes or accessing services. Additionally, a federal judge in Buffalo ruled that the Trump administration's recent ICE rule changes enabling such arrests were unlawful, ordering the release of a detained asylum seeker, a decision that could influence similar cases nationwide. These legal challenges highlight concerns over inhumane detention conditions and the broader impact of federal immigration policies on local governance and immigrant communities. The Department of Justice has sought higher court reviews of restrictions on ICE enforcement in other regions, illustrating ongoing national tensions over immigration enforcement strategies.