District Judge P. Kevin Castel<\/a>, a George W. Bush appointee, found there was not enough evidence to suggest that ICE’s courthouse arrest policy changes were “unexplained, arbitrary and capricious” after 2021 guidance allowed arrests at or near immigration courts.<\/p>\n Noting the 2025 guidance is more “expansive and permissive,” Castel acknowledged ICE made the changes because local correctional facilities and prisons, which are considered “safe” locations due to security screenings, are not available due to state and local policies regarding immigration detainers.<\/p>\n Dozens of immigrants are detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents inside the Federal Plaza courthouse in New York City June 26 after their legal proceedings. (Lokman Vural Elibol\/Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/p>\n FEDERAL JUDGE REJECTS MILWAUKEE JUDGE’S IMMUNITY CLAIM IN ICE OBSTRUCTION CASE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n However, the judge did block a Department of Justice policy encouraging immigration judges<\/a> to dismiss cases so ICE could immediately arrest migrants.<\/p>\n The Trump administration in June launched an initiative to arrest illegal immigrants after asylum hearings.<\/p>\n The tactic stirred controversy, with critics claiming migrants seeking legal citizenship would be less likely to show up to hearings, and those who are arrested after hearings may not have additional criminal histories.<\/p>\n Federal agents detain a man after his court hearing in immigration court at the Ted Weiss Federal Building July 9, 2025, in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n NEW JERSEY’S BAN ON PRIVATELY OPERATED ICE DETENTION CENTERS STRUCK DOWN BY COURT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Videos of the arrests went viral on social media, with some going so far as accusing ICE of “kidnapping” migrants.<\/p>\n “In its fervor to expel as many immigrants as possible from the country, the Trump administration is targeting immigrants in the very place set up to adjudicate their status: immigration court<\/a>,” Diana Konat\u00e9, deputy executive director of Policy and Advocacy at African Communities Together, wrote in a statement published by the ACLU.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Every day, our members are forced to choose between being kidnapped and\/or put into expedited removal or risking deeper legal consequences because they’re too scared to go to court.<\/p>\n “This is exactly what the administration intended \u2014 for people to be so fearful of enforcement that they forfeit the very resources and systems in place to protect them. We\u2019re bringing this lawsuit on behalf of our members and fighting for justice.”<\/p>\n DHS previously reported a knife-wielding protester in a keffiyeh ambushed ICE agents at a San Francisco courthouse. (Department of Homeland Security)<\/p>\n![\"ERO](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/homeland-ero-agent.jpg\")
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