A federal judge handed the Trump administration a major win on Friday, ruling that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents can continue making arrests of illegal aliens at courthouses in New York City.
The ruling comes despite challenges from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and immigrant rights groups.
District Judge P. Kevin Castel, a George W. Bush appointee, rejected claims that ICE’s courthouse arrest policy was “arbitrary and capricious.”
He found there was insufficient evidence to support the lawsuit’s core argument, effectively upholding the administration’s 2025 guidance allowing ICE arrests at or near immigration courts.
Judge Backs Enforcement Authority
Castel noted that the updated guidance is “more expansive and permissive” than previous versions.
The judge said ICE’s rationale was clear: with New York and other Democrat-led jurisdictions refusing to honor detainer requests in local jails, immigration courts and federal facilities remain among the few secure locations where agents can apprehend criminal aliens.
However, Castel did block a Department of Justice (DOJ) policy that encouraged immigration judges to dismiss cases for the sole purpose of immediately transferring individuals to ICE custody.
Trump Administration’s Crackdown
The courthouse initiative was launched in June as part of President Donald Trump’s broader push to restore law and