By Prime Path Immigration Law Firm Limited USA, on Immigration Updates
A Manhattan federal judge has issued a temporary injunction blocking Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from holding immigrants for prolonged periods in unsafe and unsanitary conditions at the 26 Federal Plaza immigration courthouse in New York. Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of the U.S District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that the conditions likely violate the constitutional rights of detainees, as plaintiffs, including immigrant rights advocates and detained individuals, are at risk of serious harm. The court highlighted evidence of overcrowding, inadequate facilities, and a lack of access to legal counsel, which ICE failed to effectively dispute.
The injunction also requires ICE to provide detainees with timely notice of their rights, access to legal calls with interpreters, and it ensures the detainees’ continued protection from inhumane treatment. Judge Kaplan had previously issued a temporary restraining order mandating these rights, and this ruling further reinforces protections for immigrants detained in the facility. The case, Mercado v Noem represents a significant victory for immigrant rights organizations, including the ACLU, in challenging ICE’s treatment of detainees in New York.
For more information on this, and other immigration matters, contact the attorneys at Prime Path Immigration Law Firm Limited USA today.
Reference:
Beth Wang, NY Judge Orders ICE Improve Conditions for Migrant Detainees, Bloomberg Law (Sept. 17, 2025), https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/ny-judge-orders-ice-improve-conditions-for-migrant-detainees.
