New York City, a hub for the nation’s largest immigrant population, is witnessing an unprecedented escalation in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests under President Trump’s second term, with a sharp focus on courthouse detentions.
Since January 20, 2025, over half of the 2,365 immigrants arrested in the New York City area have been detained during routine immigration court appearances or mandatory check-ins at federal offices in Manhattan.
This is according to data from the Deportation Data Project obtained through a lawsuit at the University of California, Berkeley.
Unlike the anticipated large-scale raids in public spaces, ICE has adopted a more discreet yet aggressive approach in New York, targeting immigrants at the Ted Weiss Federal Building and 26 Federal Plaza.
These locations, where immigrants attend mandated hearings to determine deportation or asylum eligibility, have become central to the Trump administration’s crackdown.
Federal agents, often masked, have arrested individuals immediately after court proceedings, a tactic that has surged since late May 2025, with an average of 33 daily detentions in the region, up from 11 in prior months.
This marks a nearly 200% increase in arrests compared to the five months before Trump’s inauguration, totaling 2,365 between late January and June 26, 2025.
Data Reveals Broad Net, Non-Criminal Immigrants Targeted
Despite the administration’s stated focus on deporting “criminals,” new data reveals that 55% of those arrested in New York City since January had no criminal convictions or charges.
Of the 45% with criminal records, only 157 out of 706 had convictions for violent crimes, highlighting that the majority of detentions involve non-criminal immigrants or those with minor offenses, such as traffic violations.
This broad approach has drawn criticism from immigration lawyers and advocates, who argue it undermines due process by sweeping up individuals with pending asylum claims or long-term residency.
Ecuadorians make up the largest group of detainees at 23%, followed by immigrants from El Salvador, Venezuela, Honduras, and Mexico.
Approximately 58% of those arrested had prior deportation orders, some issued years ago, while others had been living in legal limbo under previous administrations.
The remaining detainees, lacking outstanding deportation orders, often entered illegally, overstayed visas, or lost Biden-era protections revoked by Trump.
Prolonged Detentions and Overcrowded Facilities
The surge in arrests has strained ICE’s detention infrastructure, with holding cells in New York City’s 26 Federal Plaza reportedly overcrowded.
Detainees are frequently transferred to facilities in Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas, far from their families and legal counsel.
At least 800 of the 2,365 arrested have been deported as of June 26, 2025, with many others facing prolonged detention as their cases languish in court.
A July 8, 2025, memo from ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons has eliminated bond hearings for most undocumented immigrants, mandating detention for the duration of removal proceedings, which can take months or years.
This policy shift has sparked legal challenges, with advocates arguing it violates constitutional rights.
The human toll of these tactics is evident in cases like that of José and Josué Trejo Lopez, Salvadoran brothers who arrived in the U.S. as children in 2016.
Despite complying with ICE check-ins and building lives in Georgia, they were detained during a routine visit to 26 Federal Plaza on March 14, 2025, and deported to El Salvador on May 7, 2025, after expedited proceedings.
Their mother, Alma Lopez Diaz, expressed heartbreak over their separation, noting their clean records and educational achievements.
Similarly, Timoteo, a 26-year-old Guatemalan immigrant, was arrested in Brooklyn on April 2, 2025, in a case of mistaken identity during an ICE raid.
Despite no criminal record, he was detained after fracturing his foot in a chase, only to be released pending a future court date.
Sering Ceesay, a 63-year-old Gambian resident of the Bronx for over three decades, was detained during a February 14, 2025, check-in and faced health crises in detention due to inadequate medical care.
His release, secured through legal intervention, underscores ongoing concerns about detainee treatment.
Legal and Community Pushback
The courthouse arrest strategy, described as “common-sense” by Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, has faced significant backlash.
A class-action lawsuit filed on July 16, 2025, by Democracy Forward and other legal groups in the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia argues that these arrests violate due process by targeting immigrants exercising their legal rights.
Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, contend that the presence of masked agents in courthouses deters immigrants from attending hearings, risking “in absentia” deportation orders for non-appearance.
New York’s sanctuary city policies, which limit cooperation with ICE, have led to tensions, with the Trump administration suing Mayor Eric Adams to challenge these laws.
Border Czar Thomas Homan has vowed to “flood the zone” in New York to circumvent these restrictions, signaling further escalation.
Future Implications
Nationwide, ICE arrests average 690 daily, far below the 3,000-per-day target set by Stephen Miller, Trump’s top immigration adviser.
With Congress allocating $170 billion for immigration enforcement in July 2025, including funds to double detention capacity to 100,000 beds, ICE is poised to expand operations.
However, legal challenges and capacity constraints continue to hinder the administration’s goal of deporting millions.
In New York, the focus on courthouse arrests has made immigration courts a flashpoint, with daily scenes of fear and family separations, as reported by NBC News and local outlet The City.
As the crackdown intensifies, advocates warn of a chilling effect on immigrant communities, with many avoiding courthouses out of fear.
“This is about slamming shut the courthouse door on people who have the right to seek asylum,” said Shayna Kessler of the Vera Institute of Justice.
The ongoing legal battles and community resistance will likely shape the future of Trump’s immigration agenda in New York and beyond.
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